Halloween 2020
31/10/20 00:32
In the journey of grief there are many hard days: The first Christmas without a loved one. The first birthday. The first anniversary. When you walk the journey of grief with another person, you learn that there are some days that you can predict will be hard. One of those days is the anniversary of the loss. I know many people who always remember the day that their loved one died. They remember the date. They remember what day of the week it was. They remember details of that day and replay them in their minds over and over again. Even when time has passed and the initial pain of the loss has turned into a collection of memories that are familiar and beloved, the anniversary of a death is a challenging day for many people.
It is not a mystery why the early church began the process of remembering those who had died on the day of their death. In the Christian tradition, a saint’s day is the day that the person died. Valentine’s Day is the commemoration of the day when St. Valentine died. October 4 is the feast of St. Francis of Assisi and a traditional day for the blessing of the animals. Over the years, of course, the losses have added up. The Roman Catholic Church recognizes over 10,000 saints. With only 365 days in the year it means that every day is a day of remembrance for someone of faith. In the Protestant tradition, many congregations recognize all people of faith who have gone before as saints. Protestant churches do not require special review and do not make a distinction between those recognized by church leaders and those mourned by families and friends.
It is the process of grief that gave rise to the recognition of all saints day. Many Christian denominations set aside November 1 as All Soul’s Day or All Saint’s Day to commemorate all of the faithful departed. It is known in some traditions as the day of the dead. One day each year is set aside to remembrance and prayer for all of those who have touched our lives and faith and whose presence is missed.
Historians are not completely sure of the practice of observing the day before All Saints Day as a somewhat separate holiday. Some believe that the practice of observing the eve before the day is a purely Christian tradition. Others believe that it is a holiday borrowed and adapted from pre-Christian traditions of observing the passing of loved ones. Some scholars cite pre-Christian Celtic traditions, fall harvest festivals, and other celebrations and traditions that have been adapted and rolled into the day before the observance of All Saints. Certainly Christianity has a long tradition of adapting pre-existing traditions and holidays and giving them additional meaning in the light of Christian observances.
Halloween symbols include harvest items, such as bonfires, apple bobbing, and pumpkins. Other Halloween traditions, such as dressing up in costumes and playing pranks on others have sources that are not as clearly identified with a particular day or season. We humans enjoy exercising our imaginations and putting on costumes and pretending to be someone other than our normal everyday selves is an ancient form of entertainment.
Some of the traditions of All Saints Eve and All Saints Day have to do with the mystery of death. We do not fully understand death. We know that when a person dies they cease breathing and their body begins to decay. We know that they no longer are available for conversation and we feel the pain of loss and go through grief. We also know that our memories continue to come to our minds. When a person dies, there is a lasting presence that is felt and experienced. Our faith teaches us that eternal life is what awaits those who have died, but it is less than specific when it comes to the actual nature of eternal life. We do not know exactly what happens to the unique identity and character of a person. We use words like “soul” and “spirit” to speak of ongoing life, but we do so with an element of speculation and wonder.
Setting aside a day to recognize the depth of the mystery and to give thanks for the gift of life allows us to embrace that mystery and grow our faith. The combination of serious thoughts of life and death with playful creativity and costumes gives us the gift of coming face to face with our fears without having them overwhelm us. We get the adrenalin rush of a fright without descending into terror.
Halloween celebrations, like much of the rest of our lives, are being modified by the pandemic. Children going door to door for trick or treat has already been modified by parents worried about the dangers of strangers and the excesses of sweets on a single night. Alternatives were already being explored by many parents. Adding to that the fear of contracting a virus through contact with others and lots of families are seeking alternatives to the practice. In previous years the alternatives included parties and other gatherings, but the risk of exposure goes up dramatically when people are gathered in groups, so activities that allow for social distancing, outdoor activities, and other events are being planned that balance the need for a holiday and fun experiences for children with the fear of illness. It is, as we have all observed, a strange year.
We’ve never been too big on the outward displays of holidays. We don’t go in for elaborate decorations. Having moved our household and camping out in the house we are about to sell means that we wouldn’t have had any decorations anyway. Still, we know a few of the children in our neighborhood and we have a small supply of treats to share if any of them come by to show off costumes. We will figure out some way to toss the treats from our porch or allow children to obtain treats from a basket without getting too close. And we will miss part of the fun and joy of the holiday in this time of transition.
The presence of the pandemic reminds us of the fragility of life and of our own vulnerability. None of us will live forever. As we give thanks for those who have gone before and as we remember the power of grief in our lives, may Halloween be a sacred time, but also a time when we don’t take our selves too seriously. Happy Halloween!
It is not a mystery why the early church began the process of remembering those who had died on the day of their death. In the Christian tradition, a saint’s day is the day that the person died. Valentine’s Day is the commemoration of the day when St. Valentine died. October 4 is the feast of St. Francis of Assisi and a traditional day for the blessing of the animals. Over the years, of course, the losses have added up. The Roman Catholic Church recognizes over 10,000 saints. With only 365 days in the year it means that every day is a day of remembrance for someone of faith. In the Protestant tradition, many congregations recognize all people of faith who have gone before as saints. Protestant churches do not require special review and do not make a distinction between those recognized by church leaders and those mourned by families and friends.
It is the process of grief that gave rise to the recognition of all saints day. Many Christian denominations set aside November 1 as All Soul’s Day or All Saint’s Day to commemorate all of the faithful departed. It is known in some traditions as the day of the dead. One day each year is set aside to remembrance and prayer for all of those who have touched our lives and faith and whose presence is missed.
Historians are not completely sure of the practice of observing the day before All Saints Day as a somewhat separate holiday. Some believe that the practice of observing the eve before the day is a purely Christian tradition. Others believe that it is a holiday borrowed and adapted from pre-Christian traditions of observing the passing of loved ones. Some scholars cite pre-Christian Celtic traditions, fall harvest festivals, and other celebrations and traditions that have been adapted and rolled into the day before the observance of All Saints. Certainly Christianity has a long tradition of adapting pre-existing traditions and holidays and giving them additional meaning in the light of Christian observances.
Halloween symbols include harvest items, such as bonfires, apple bobbing, and pumpkins. Other Halloween traditions, such as dressing up in costumes and playing pranks on others have sources that are not as clearly identified with a particular day or season. We humans enjoy exercising our imaginations and putting on costumes and pretending to be someone other than our normal everyday selves is an ancient form of entertainment.
Some of the traditions of All Saints Eve and All Saints Day have to do with the mystery of death. We do not fully understand death. We know that when a person dies they cease breathing and their body begins to decay. We know that they no longer are available for conversation and we feel the pain of loss and go through grief. We also know that our memories continue to come to our minds. When a person dies, there is a lasting presence that is felt and experienced. Our faith teaches us that eternal life is what awaits those who have died, but it is less than specific when it comes to the actual nature of eternal life. We do not know exactly what happens to the unique identity and character of a person. We use words like “soul” and “spirit” to speak of ongoing life, but we do so with an element of speculation and wonder.
Setting aside a day to recognize the depth of the mystery and to give thanks for the gift of life allows us to embrace that mystery and grow our faith. The combination of serious thoughts of life and death with playful creativity and costumes gives us the gift of coming face to face with our fears without having them overwhelm us. We get the adrenalin rush of a fright without descending into terror.
Halloween celebrations, like much of the rest of our lives, are being modified by the pandemic. Children going door to door for trick or treat has already been modified by parents worried about the dangers of strangers and the excesses of sweets on a single night. Alternatives were already being explored by many parents. Adding to that the fear of contracting a virus through contact with others and lots of families are seeking alternatives to the practice. In previous years the alternatives included parties and other gatherings, but the risk of exposure goes up dramatically when people are gathered in groups, so activities that allow for social distancing, outdoor activities, and other events are being planned that balance the need for a holiday and fun experiences for children with the fear of illness. It is, as we have all observed, a strange year.
We’ve never been too big on the outward displays of holidays. We don’t go in for elaborate decorations. Having moved our household and camping out in the house we are about to sell means that we wouldn’t have had any decorations anyway. Still, we know a few of the children in our neighborhood and we have a small supply of treats to share if any of them come by to show off costumes. We will figure out some way to toss the treats from our porch or allow children to obtain treats from a basket without getting too close. And we will miss part of the fun and joy of the holiday in this time of transition.
The presence of the pandemic reminds us of the fragility of life and of our own vulnerability. None of us will live forever. As we give thanks for those who have gone before and as we remember the power of grief in our lives, may Halloween be a sacred time, but also a time when we don’t take our selves too seriously. Happy Halloween!
