We are due to move into a new liturgical season, the shortest of the liturgical seasons lasting just two days, and often forgotten.

It is hard not to be aware of Halloween of All Hallow’s Eve, it has taken over the autumn season from a cultural and commercial view point. A season some view as harmless fun and others shun with horror seeking light instead. You can read my views here.

This Hallowed season doesn’t begin and end with the 31st October though, and as Christians we need to embrace the rest of the limited season. All Hallow’s Eve (just like Christmas Eve) is the prelude to the main event: All Hallow’s Day. All Hallow’s Eve, or Samhain, actually originated in Ireland and was imported to America where it was renamed Trick or Treat and grew to be the family festival it is today. Pre-Christian Celts would go ‘Souling’ on this day, carving lanterns from turnips to ward off the spirits, and lighting their way as they went from door to door begging for a Soul Cake,

For the ancients the end of summer was a time to remember those who had died, to remember all souls. With Christianity we have a shape and hope for those remembrances, so All Hallow’s Day follows on from All Hallow’s Day and is followed by All Souls’ Day.

All Hallow’s Day is a day for remembering the holy ones, the Christian saints and martyrs and is now more widely referred to as All Saints Day, and becomes a day for celebrating and encouraging all our saints, dead and alive, not just the canonical ones, but all who live in the Christian faith.

All Souls’ Day is now remembered on the 2nd November and is a time for us to remember all those we have loved and who have gone before us. The two festivals coming together so that the Saints could pray for the Souls, especially in the days when it was believed that the dead went to purgatory before heaven decided whether they were worthy enough to enter the pearly gates, and it wasn’t too late to pray for their souls. A custom no longer held.

The liturgical colours are gold and white, the colours of heaven.

For modern Christians it has become a time to be reminded that we are saints now, and to refocus our energies and prayers on supporting the living. A time to be encouraged in our faith and to deepen our relationship with God. A time also to remember with love those who have gone before us, and to be reminded that death is not the end, but the beginning of eternity with Christ.

If you are looking for ways to expand your prayerlife and deepen your relationship with Jesus, why not take a peek at my giftshop, or book yourself a place on my Advent Retreat? Earlybird discount in place until the end of the month.