Every year, a day after the spooky festival of Halloween , All Saints' Day is celebrated on November 1 , to honour all saints whether known or unknown who have attained heaven. It is celebrated on the second day of the 3-day period of Allhallowtide which begins with Halloween (October 31) or All Hallows Eve and concludes with All Souls' Day (November 2), marking the time when Catholics and other Christians remember their deceased family members and the saints in heaven.
All Saints' Day is also called All Hallows, the term that also marks the origin of the word 'Halloween' considering the day prior to All Saints' Day is called 'All Hallows Eve'.
Traditionally, the Catholic Church regards All Saints’ Day as a holy day of obligation and urges the faithful to attend Mass and participate in prayers honoring these revered figures.
History and significance of All Saints' Day
The origins of All Saints' Day go back to early Christian history, where a feast to honor martyrs was held on May 13 in the Eastern Church, as mentioned by St. Ephraem Syrus in the 4th century. This date later inspired Pope Boniface IV ’s dedication of the Pantheon in Rome to the Virgin Mary and the martyrs in 609. By the early 8th century, Pope Gregory III established November 1 as the day for this celebration and consecrated a chapel in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome to all saints. Under Pope Gregory IV in 837, All Saints’ Day was officially observed across the Western Church on this date.
Celebration of All Saints' Day
All Saints' Day is all about family reunion and a day to celebrate and remember saints. During this time, people visit cemeteries of saints, light candles, attend mass, pray and sing.
While Halloween is about wearing spooky costumes, many people dress up as saints to celebrate All Saints Day. According to USA Today, some of the locations people visit on All Saints Day are National Shrine of St. Katharine Drexel in Philadelphia, the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine in Oklahoma City and the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
All Saints Day is celebrated with varied traditions in different parts of the world. In Austria and Bavaria, godfathers give their godchildren 'Allerheiligenstriezel', which is basically a braided yeast pastry. In Belgium, people visit the cemeteries to place flowers on the graves of deceased relatives as All Souls' Day is not a holiday for them. In Germany, it is observed as a silent day when public entertainment events with non-serious character are prohibited.
(Picture courtesy: Freepik)
All Saints' Day is also called All Hallows, the term that also marks the origin of the word 'Halloween' considering the day prior to All Saints' Day is called 'All Hallows Eve'.
Traditionally, the Catholic Church regards All Saints’ Day as a holy day of obligation and urges the faithful to attend Mass and participate in prayers honoring these revered figures.
History and significance of All Saints' Day
The origins of All Saints' Day go back to early Christian history, where a feast to honor martyrs was held on May 13 in the Eastern Church, as mentioned by St. Ephraem Syrus in the 4th century. This date later inspired Pope Boniface IV ’s dedication of the Pantheon in Rome to the Virgin Mary and the martyrs in 609. By the early 8th century, Pope Gregory III established November 1 as the day for this celebration and consecrated a chapel in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome to all saints. Under Pope Gregory IV in 837, All Saints’ Day was officially observed across the Western Church on this date.
Celebration of All Saints' Day
All Saints' Day is all about family reunion and a day to celebrate and remember saints. During this time, people visit cemeteries of saints, light candles, attend mass, pray and sing.
While Halloween is about wearing spooky costumes, many people dress up as saints to celebrate All Saints Day. According to USA Today, some of the locations people visit on All Saints Day are National Shrine of St. Katharine Drexel in Philadelphia, the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine in Oklahoma City and the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
All Saints Day is celebrated with varied traditions in different parts of the world. In Austria and Bavaria, godfathers give their godchildren 'Allerheiligenstriezel', which is basically a braided yeast pastry. In Belgium, people visit the cemeteries to place flowers on the graves of deceased relatives as All Souls' Day is not a holiday for them. In Germany, it is observed as a silent day when public entertainment events with non-serious character are prohibited.
(Picture courtesy: Freepik)
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