Thursday is Halloween. This annual autumnal observance is anticipated by children of all ages. I have personal traditions connected with holidays. I spend an hour rereading The Legend of Sleepy Hallow on the day before Halloween.
The celebration and costuming of Halloween used to be associated with the November 1st Feast of All Saints. It was the celebration attached to First Vespers of the feast—the eve of All Saints, All Hallows Eve, Halloween.
In some cultures, people would dress in costume and gather in the city square. They would sing and dance and eat and drink! At midnight, Death would enter the city square, in black shroud carrying a reaper’s scythe.
This was the conclusion of the celebration. Everyone – women, men and children – would take turns dancing with Death. For it is said, “once you have danced with Death, you have nothing to fear.”
The next morning, people would gather for All Saints Mass, the solemn commemoration of all those heroic men and women who lived their ordinary lives with extraordinary charity—all those, who by the mercy of God, now share eternal life in the presence of the Lamb.
Father Steve Adrian
P.S. I do so enjoy answering the doorbell on Halloween night and seeing creative genius in the costumes the Trick or Treaters wear.
L. Petit (graveur) A. Cadart (drukker), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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