All Hallow What?

In the last week, I was introduced to a new addition to the church calendar – All Hallowtide.  It is the marking of the three days of All Hallows’ Eve, All Hallows’ Day and All Soul’s Day.  I’m sure that makers it crystal clear for everyone.  Well actually, it probably is still like seeing through a glass darkly – to use the language from the King James Version of the bible.

Some of this is recognizable to the less that liturgically obsessed.  All Hallows’ Eve is better known as Halloween.  I hope everyone survived that occasion with more treats than tricks.  Halloween got its origins in the ancient Celtic celebration of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts.  The church, which was very good at co-opting festivals from other religions, in the 8th century Pope Gregory III declared November 1st to be the feast to celebrate all the saint of the church - All saints Day.   All Hallows’ Eve was the eve of All Saints which transmorphed in Halloween and took on many of the attributed of Samhain.  The approaching long nights of winter were dangerous days of witches, ghosts and goblins which had to be appeased by treats.

All Soul’s’ Day is the commemoration of all those who have gone before us whom we honour and owe a debt of gratitude.  One source I consulted notes that it had its origin in the Benedictine Monasteries of the 6th century which had the practice of, “a commemoration of the deceased members at Whitsuntide.” 

We have, therefore a celebration which can be considered an autumnal Triduum – I thought I would throw that little liturgical tidbit in make the glass even darker – calling on the inspiration of Leonard Cohen’s last album “You want it Darker”.  The great Leonard was someone who could be described as the prince of the bright darkness.  But I digress a little.  The Great Triduum is the liturgical name for the Feast of Easter comprising the three days from Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday.  For those of you who are counting, I know this comprises four days, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday.  But it is considered by the church to be only three days going from the evening of Maundy Thursday to the Easter Vigil on Saturday.  Easter Sunday is the beginning of the Easter season in the church year. 

So, we have another Triduum – The three days of the autumnal Triduum in which we celebrate those who have gone before us and whom we owe so much and whom we can honour.  I realize that some may have little to honour in the lives of those who preceded them but all in all we are here in the world we inherited from them and like us they were flawed, imperfect people but they made us who we are, and hopefully we will work to make ourselves and the world better.   This was well stated by Br. Curtis Almquis SSJE, “The saints remind us that in the best of times and in the worst of times, life is possible and passable, and that we are not left alone. Today we remember all the saints, and they remember all of us.

 Blessings on your journey from the Autumnal Triduum to the Great Triduum.