We all know about Halloween, but how about Hallowtide?
03 Nov 2021
Dear LPG,
If LPG posted my last message when I requested, you will have read what I had to say two days ago about Halloween, and by now, I hope that all the macabre costumes have all been put away for another year, and that all the sweet tasting, nasty looking food has been eaten or at least disappeared from our shop shelves.
But I thought it might be worth telling you something else I learnt about the October/November cusp. According to the internet, yesterday and today collectively make up the celebration known as Hallowtide.
But, did you know that after all the spooky goings on that happen as we pass from October to November; tradition informs us that we enter another holiday which is called ‘All saints day’. November 1st is a celebration which aims to honour all those who were martyred in the name of Christianity; particularly the ones that don’t have their own personal saint’s day.
Well that would have been yesterday by now, but today is also a day to be recognised. Today is ‘All soul’s day’. After all that remembrance of the lesser known-saints yesterday, today is the day to remember everyone who has passed on, good or bad. Together, these two celebrations are known as Hallowtide, according to the little I have read about them, most of the celebrations are church affairs although the lighting of a candle is mentioned to mark the significance of both the day and some of those who have gone before. But it got me to thinking…
Even if you don’t go to church, I know that most of the readers of LPG are old enough to have experienced some loss in their lives and so, armed with the snippets of information that I have offered and even though these have become a pretty obscure pair of celebrations over the years, it might just be a day to light a candle or two and spare a quick thought for a few people you have known.
WD, Longfield.
WD offers some information about Hallowtide…
…and, in preparation for next year, found a list of the saints that most likely share All Saints day …
