The Catholic Talk Show Exorcising Halloween w/ Charles Fraune
Oct 28, 2025
Charles Fraune, author and founder of Slaying Dragons Press, dives deep into the origins of Halloween, emphasizing its roots in Christian feasts and spirituality. He argues that modern Halloween has become a missed opportunity for Catholics. The discussion highlights reclaiming Halloween with traditions like making soul cakes and visiting cemeteries to teach children about the dead. Fraune shares the importance of community practices, reversing misconceptions about death, and inspiring Catholic artists to bring meaningful faith into Halloween celebrations.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Halloween Is A Composite Feast
- Halloween bundles several feast-day themes (Christ the King, All Saints, All Souls) into one cultural moment.
- Charles Fraune argues this makes Halloween a missed opportunity for proclaiming the triumph of light over darkness.
Church Sanctifies Seasonal Patterns
- Seasonal pagan parallels don't negate Christian feasts because cultures naturally mark harvest and renewal.
- The Church sanctifies these natural rhythms by attaching sacramental meaning to familiar times and customs.
Modern Occult Is Mostly Reinvention
- Much of modern occultism is a Victorian-era reconstruction, not authentic ancient druidism.
- Charles cites scholarship that modern pagan practices are largely fabricated 'fan fiction' of ancient rites.
