All Saints Day

Halloween is also commonly referred to as All Hallows Eve.  All Hallows, the day after Halloween, is also commonly referred to as All Saints Day, the Solemnity of All Saints, or The Feast of All Saints.  All Hallows is the second day of Hallowmas, Halloween being the first day, and is followed by All Souls Day or The Day of the Dead (nothing to do with zombies, even though during the celebrations the dead do parade through the streets).

 

It seems like something got messed up in the holiday planning schedule.  Christmas isn't Christeen, yet the first day of Hallowmas is Halloween, and on the first day of Hallowmas we dress up like ghouls, goblins, and zombies, yet the Day of the Dead is two days later.  Huh?  Well, Halloween is actually Hallowe'en, a contraction of "All Hallows Evening", or All Hallows Eve.  All Saints Day honors all saints, known and unknown. 

 

What?  I wasn't the best of Catholics, but I thought saints had to be vetted by the church prior to receiving the mantle of "Saint."  I got the quick answer through Wikipedia:

"In Western Christian theology, the day commemorates all those who have attained the beatific vision in Heaven. In the Catholic Church and many Anglican churches, the next day specifically commemorates the departed faithful who have not yet been purified and reached heaven. Other Christian traditions define, remember and respond to the saints in different ways; for example, in the Methodist Church, the word "saints" refers to all Christians and therefore, on All Saints' Day, the Church Universal, as well as the deceased members of a local congregation, are honored and remembered."

Here we can see the term "church" is being used as it was intended, not the physical structure in which one worships, but as the "congregation" of the faithful.  Originally, Christian use of the term "saint" referred to any believer "in Christ" and in whom Christ dwells.  With this definition we can easily see how many of us might rate "unknown" sainthood status.

 

So, this Thursday, as you dress up yourself, or the kids, in costume, don't forget that it is the first day of Hallowmas, Hallowe'en.  When  you wake up the next morning don't forget to pay a little "self-serving" respect to all the saints.