All Saints Day - 1 November
November 1 is All Saints Day, a day of religious feasting that, with no coincidence, follows the originally pagan holiday of Halloween. More than 2,000 years ago, Celtic peoples in Ireland, Scotland, and Great Britain held harvest feasts to which they believed the souls of their dead returned. These feasts evolved into what we now know as Halloween.
In the 8th century, Pope Gregory IV decided to "Catholicize" the holiday. He declared Halloween night and the following day as All Saints Day, a time to honor martyrs of the Catholic Church. Today, Catholic Europeans mark All Saints Day by remembering their departed loved ones, by honoring those who have died in wars, and by praying for the saints.
Other spiritual paths, from Taoists, Buddhist, Native American, to Wiccan, also honor those who have made the transition, from sacred ancestors to more recent beloved dead. Believing the veil between the worlds is lifted, many send their love to their dead, complete unfinished business with them, and let go of them so that they can move on to where they need to be.
One way to honor the dead is to put some time aside and in a quiet place -
- Say their name.
- Light a candle in their memory.
- Honor them with a story or memory.
- Complete any unfinished business with them.
- Give thanks to them for sharing their lives with you.
- Toast them and release them to move on to where they need to be.
