St. John the Evangelist (Stamford)

All Hallow’s Eve (Halloween)

 

All Hallow’s Eve, or Halloween as we call it today, is part of a three-day festival: 

 

    •    All Hallow’s Eve ~ October 31

    •    All Saints Day ~ November 1

    •    All Souls Day ~ November 2

 

These special days are set aside for remembering  and celebrating all those who have died.  We are to celebrate their lives by remembering how they touched us and not only to grieve their loss.  The word “Hallow” means Holy, and the word Halloween refers to the night before the feast of all holies - or All Saints Day.  At this time of year, it is often dark outside early and trees and plants are finished growing for the year.  It is as if nature is going to sleep for the long, cold winter months.  On Halloween we sometimes light candles or put candles in our Jack-o-lanterns, bringing light into the darkness.  Just like Jesus did!  Jesus said he was “The Light of the World”, and when we light our jack-o-lanterns we are sharing the light of God with others.  

 

All Saints Day 

This day is celebrated on November 1st and is a day of remembering all of God’s Saints who have already gone to heaven.   

We are all part of God’s family.  The Bible is a book about the members of God’s family, our family.  So the Bible is kind of like a family album because it tells the stories of great women and men of faith in the family of God.  

On November first, we remember all the wonderful, brave, and loving things they did while they were alive and we think about how God wants us to live our lives.

 

 

All Souls Day

All Soul's Day, is sometimes called the "Day of the Dead" and is celebrated on November 2nd.  All Soul's Day is a day of remembrance for friends and loved ones who have passed away. This comes from the ancient Pagan Festival of the Dead, which celebrated the Pagan belief that the souls of the dead would return for a meal with the family. Candles in the window would guide the souls back home, and another place was set at the table. Children would come through the village, asking for food to be offered symbolically to the dead, then donated to feed the hungry. 

 

A Halloween Prayer:

Loving God, who created pumpkins and people, bless our beautiful Halloween light.
This light reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world.
Jesus shines through the darkness and turns the light into day, sadness into joy, hate into love, and tears into smiles.
Bless the candles that we hold.  Let them be a reminder that we are your candles lighting up the smiles and hearts of our friends and family. 
Bless the happy pumpkins we will carve for our candles, that everyone who sees them might never be afraid of the darkness because your wonderful light is with us.  Amen.