We are quickly approaching the middle of October (where did September go??) and you only have to drive a short distance to see all of the Halloween decorations. Did you know that Halloween has become the second most decorated day of the year? The ghosts and goblins, the orange lights, the candy and all sorts of decorations are spread throughout the town and throughout the outlying areas as well. Where did all of this come from? I cannot remember Halloween being this big of a deal when I was a kid……….but I am old! Growing up in the 1960’s it was basically a one day event, but now the parties last for almost 2 weeks. Someone told me a few years ago that “people love parties”, and that is probably a part of it but I think there is something more.
Over the course of 3 days, October 31st, November 1st and 2nd we go from the ancient Celtic celebration of a new year, where Druids (ancient Celtic priests) would light bonfires to keep evil spirits away to All Saints and All Souls.
The ancient pagans of Ireland and Britain were mindful that the harvest was in, the days were getting shorter and darkness was overcoming their land.
So they would wear costumes to scare the evil spirits away, build bonfires to protect their villages and each family would lite their own cottage by a small fire from the “holy fire”. After Saint Patrick converted the Irish, some remnants of the Druids remained during the following centuries, but in 615A.D. Pope Boniface IV instituted the Feast of All Saints, celebrated to honor all the saints especially those who are not officially canonized (on the official lists of saints we honor in Heaven, such as Francis of Assisi or Mother Theresa of Calcutta) and have their own date on the calendar. It has been celebrated on November 1 since the year 731 A.D. when Pope Gregory III moved it to accommodate the Church in Ireland and Britain to battle the pagan culture of the Celtic peoples.
