The Secret Religious History of Halloween's Top Monsters

Spooky season is here – and with it comes a familiar cast of characters. 

As you stroll through your neighborhood looking at decorations, you’ll see a lineup of popular Halloween creatures featuring in the seasonal decor. From witches, to vampires, to zombies, and more, these monsters have become so closely tied to the Halloween holiday that we don’t even think twice about why that is – or how faith might be part of the story. 

But it’s true: many of these creepy figures have deep or hidden religious connections. (Side note – this also helps explain why some deeply devout people refuse to participate in the trick or treating festivities, but that's another story).

Let's explore the secret religious history of your favorite Halloween monsters.

1. Skeletons

In Christian tradition, skeletons have been used as symbols of mortality and the transient nature of life dating back to the Middle Ages. The phrase memento mori (Latin for "remember that you will die") is a theological and philosophical reminder of the inevitability of death and the importance of living a virtuous life in preparation for the afterlife. 

This concept gave rise to a style of faith-inspired art known as the Danse Macabre (Dance of Death) which prominently features skeletal and dead figures.

Part of the emphasis behind Danse Macabre was the fact that death is impartial and affects all social classes equally. 

Interestingly, historians say these artistic displays went beyond the canvas; in the 14th and 15th century, people supposedly dressed up as corpses from different social classes at village pageants. These costumes may have even been precursors to those worn during Allhallowtide – an early (Christianized) version of Halloween with its own fascinating history. 

2. The Grim Reaper

When it comes to imagining death, the Grim Reaper is a familiar figure and a close cousin to the skeleton. Depicted as a hooded corpse carrying a scythe, ready to "harvest" souls, this imagery also dates back to the 14th century and the Danse Macabre era. 

The Grim Reaper’s skeletal appearance was commonly seen in murals and morality plays performed by the church. In fact, the earliest known use of the name “Grim Reaper” in English can be traced to a Christian devotional from around 500 years after the plague, which emphasized the certainty of death and the need for spiritual preparation.

3. Mummies

Another popular costume choice, mummies frequently appear in Halloween lore as reanimated corpses, often linked to curses or divine retribution. Mummies have their origins in Ancient Egypt, but specifically in the religion practiced there at the time.

The process of mummification in Ancient Egypt was deeply connected to beliefs about the afterlife. The ancient Egyptians believed in an afterlife where the deceased would live eternally, provided their body was properly preserved. The practice of mummification was central to ensuring that the soul (known as the ba) and the spirit (the ka) could reunite with the body after death.

If the body decayed, it was thought that the soul could not find its home, leading to eternal death. Therefore, the preservation of the body through mummification symbolized a guarantee of immortality.

4. Vampires

The vampire, a blood-drinking, immortal creature, has roots in European folklore and was solidified in popular culture with works like Bram Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula. Stoker was a Protestant married to a Catholic woman in a region where tensions between the groups has endured for centuries. 

Some parallel religious themes are also found in his book. Silver – considered a pure substance and used in religious contexts – was thought to be effective against vampires. In Dracula, religious symbols like crucifixes play a key role, with the protagonist initially dismissing their power but later coming to believe in their protective qualities. 

5. Witches

This one's a bit easier to guess. Persecution of witches throughout history has been closely tied to Christian efforts to eliminate perceived evil from society, perhaps most famously during the Salem witch trials.

However, witches are unique on this list in that they do actually exist – though not as portrayed in pop culture, and certainly not as portrayed in a typical Halloween costume. Adherents of Wiccan or pagan beliefs often adopt the moniker “Witch” in association with their religious practice. 

Far from living in bogs and conjuring up evil spells in cauldrons, they are more often found hanging out on TikTok, or being accused of “satanism” by people skeptical of their beliefs. There is some sign that witchcraft is losing its taboo, though – one prominent university is even offering a degree in “Magic.” 

So where did the witch costumes you’re likely to see on Halloween come from?

Some aspects of the "witch look" are purely imaginary. However, certain stereotypical witch imagery, such as the pointed hat, have much deeper – and darker – roots. 

One theory links the pointed witch hat to the Judenhut, a cap Jews were required to wear after the Fourth Council of the Lateran in 1215. This made Jews a target for antisemitism. Even worse, over time, the hat became associated with evil, including during the witch trials in Hungary. Anyone suspected of witchcraft was required to wear a Judenhat as a form of punishment. 

6. Werewolves 

While less directly connected to religious practices, werewolf lore overlaps with Christian ideas of transformation and sin, with the curse of lycanthropy seen as a divine punishment or symbol of moral corruption. Silver again makes an appearance in werewolf tales – this symbol of religious purity is believed to be one of the few materials able to kill werewolves.

7. Zombies

Zombies, undead creatures that hunger for human flesh, are now a staple of modern horror. In today's entertainment, they are often depicted in dystopian settings, as seen in The Walking Dead or The Last of Us. They’re also the inspiration for many a Halloween costume.

However, the concept of zombies is not secular – it originally stems from Vodou (or Voodoo) traditions, a faith which originated in Haiti. Vodou blends West African Vodun and Catholicism, and zombies in this context were believed to be dead individuals revived by shamans to perform tasks, often representing the fear of enslavement.

8. Ghouls

Ghouls, like zombies, are flesh-eating monsters, but they originate in pre-Islamic Arabian beliefs. Described as graveyard dwellers or desert tricksters, ghouls were thought to lure travelers to their deaths. In Islamic tradition, ghouls are sometimes seen as jinn or demons who fell to Earth. According to hadith, ghouls could be warded off by reciting prayers, and in some cases, they might even convert to Islam.

In popular culture, ghouls have been featured in works by Edgar Allan Poe and H.P. Lovecraft, and they often appear as enemies in video games. The term has come to broadly describe a variety of spooky creatures in Halloween lore.

Each of these monsters—whether the Grim Reaper, vampires, witches, zombies, or ghouls—has deep connections to both cultural fears and religious symbolism, making them powerful and enduring icons in both horror and faith-based traditions.