Happy All Saints Day – November 1

Happy All Saints Day – November 1

November first is the celebration of All Saints Day.  It is no accident this celebration comes after Halloween.  All Saints Day was the church's response to the pagan rituals and beliefs surrounding "all hallows eve", or Halloween.   As Christianity spread throughout the ancient world, it tried to transform, reinterpret, or integrate pagan and cultural customs into the life of the church. Sometimes that was not so easy. Halloween was such a celebration that the early church found difficulty in integrating.  Halloween was a blending of customs and traditions from various cultures. Its roots are in the religion of the Druids in ancient Great Britain.  Halloween was observed as a combination harvest festival, new year’s celebration and Feast of Samhain. (Lord of the Dead). The autumnal equinox or end of October served as the time for this celebration.   

Originally All Saints Day was set on November 1 as a day to recognize and celebrate all of the unnamed saints of the church, or those not having their own “saint day”.  The church celebrated those whose lives had exemplified the call of Christ’s discipleship and fill the world with the Light of God. Today All Saint’s Day is observed to recognize those who have died and given us examples of Christian discipleship, people who are currently exemplifying discipleship and faithfulness, we are part of  ‘the communion of saints, past, present and future, and  to acknowledge we are  “saints in the making” - by baptism called as disciples of Jesus Christ