Posted on 11/01/2019 5:37:05 AM PDT by NOBO2012
Today is All Saints Day, which I believe is still a holy day of obligation in the Roman Catholic Church. Like All Souls Day which is tomorrow it is mostly ignored in the U.S. even though it is the religious basis for yesterdays celebration of Halloween. All-Hallows-Eve intermingled with the Celtic pagan festival of Samhain (summers end) centuries ago and evolved into todays hyper-secularized holiday that Americans spend billions on each year. The holiday has morphed into something far more hollow than hallow, consumed as it is now with images of horror and terror intended to strike fear in our hearts.
Rather than casting death as something fearful and macabre our neighbor south of the border celebrates death - or at least the memory of the dead during Mexico's November 1st and 2nd Day of the Dead. Día de los Muertos, a colorful holiday dedicated to the dearly departed is a distinctly Mexican holiday combining Christian tradition with the Aztec month-long summer celebration driven by the goddess Mictecacihuatl, the Lady of the Dead.
Although traditions are somewhat different from region to region
they all include colorful adornments and very lively reunions at family burial plots which include food and quite possibly fireworks.
Akin in sentiment, albeit far more subdued, are Eastern European traditions, exemplified by Polands celebration of All Saints and All Souls Days.
Known nationally as All Saints Day (Dzień Wszystkich Świętych) and All Souls Day (Dzień Zaduszny, or Dzień Wszystkich Zmarłych) respectively, these two days of the calendar year are dedicated to prayer and paying tribute to the deceased by visiting their graves. In accordance with tradition, Catholic families all over Poland will make pilgrimages to the resting places of their relatives, tending the graves with a care that is truly touching, before laying wreaths, flowers and candles that will be kept lit throughout the length of the holiday. As night descends, the countrys graveyards are aglow with the warm light of literally thousands of flickering candles, creating an eerie, incredibly evocative atmosphere that should not be missed by anyone with a heart that still beats. Krakow
Images of such wonderful traditions honoring the souls of the departed is quite uplifting. It saddens me to compare them to our own rather soulless Halloween celebrations. In fact the proliferation of soulless monsters who walk amongst us, presuming to dictate how we live, saddens me even more.
Zombies, Vampires the soulless undead in our midst. Their sole purpose is to torment the living, like mosquitos.
Now thats scary.
Posted from: MOTUS A.D.
I remember when Halloween was a minor kids’ holiday dedicated to candy and few errant high schoolers decorating trees with toilet paper.
I’ve watched it become a big bucks adult indulgence holiday right up there with Cinquo de Mayo. Just an excuse for more posturing and drinking and selling of stuff.
and the fights over appropriate costumes.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.