The question I’m pushing
is this: can you address your own family treasures and heirlooms around Hallowe’en,
and get back to the roots of the day?
ARE YOU READY FOR HALLOWEEN?

Hallowe'en announcement in Derry, Northern Ireland.
Source: public domain via Wikimedia
You say: "No, I want some help." Okay! Then let's go back to the origins
of Hallowe’en.
In the Christian tradition, Hallowe’en is the eve before All
Hallows’ (All Saints’) Day. That’s why citizens of some European countries
place candles around graveyards, or around their houses, or in and around
churches, or all three. As the beloved saints leave their graves and wander
around the town after sunset, they need some beacon light, even as tiny as a candle
in a hollowed-out pumpkin.
And remembrance of saints/ancestors is not just for Christians.
Many, if not all, traditional West Africans remember their ancestors with offerings of food
or hard liquor, as may be consistent with local traditions. They praise the ancestors and
ask for their help and assistance in life. Japanese honor their ancestors twice
a year. Reverence for and even fear of ancestors and saints (“hallows” in old
English) is pretty much a worldwide reality.
Now let’s update these old
traditions with a few ideas that can help you grow a Hallowe’en that’s “green” with
meaningful family activities.
First, call to mind the saints in your own family. With
your parents, spouse or partner and/or children, name deceased parents or guardians, grandparents
and other family saints as far back in your lineage as you can go. What special
values, strengths, or traditions did they bestow on you? You don’t have to name
all of them at one time. Instead, maybe name one at each meal time. Start now and keep a
list to avoid repetition until November 1, All Saints’ Day. On that day, read
the entire list and give thanks.
- Idea 2: Also, name some key secular saints that are important to you for their contributions to your life. For example, the gruff and courageous Winston Churchill or William Wilberforce.
- Idea 3: Include some saints of traditions other than your own, such as Mahatma Gandhi if you’re Korean, or Nelson Mandela if you're Tamil.
Do these honored
saints of yours help you and your community get their bearings and live for a
better future, undistracted by the hubbub of current life? You bet they do. You want to be armed with enduring
values, adjusted to current and future challenges. What are saints for if not the big things in life? Dip into the well left for you by your saints.
In sum: have fun handing out candy to the
ghosts and goblins at your door on October 31. And for your own growth and
guidance, set that activity in the bigger context of All Hallows Evening.
source: publicdomainpictures.net
Below, a slogan or a prayer. Print it and tape it on your table to use daily as you
see fit:
Spirit of
the past and the future, you have set us in communities that endure over
generations. Enable us to remember the virtues of our own saints and apply
their values to the challenges of our days. Amen.
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