Following right on the heels of Halloween are two Christian celebrations: All Saints Day and All Souls Day. Both were almost certainly conceived as palliatives to the pagan Sabbat that precedes them, yet both keep the same theme as Samhain: the connection of the physical world to the spiritual world.
A day to remember all those who have led exemplary lives, especially those whose lives are not officially recognized by organized religion, is a good thing to have, and can lead us to a game of, "Who are your Saints?" Almost everyone can, with only a little thought, come up with a list of answers to the question. Sainthood is recognition. Each of us has, or aspires to, individual qualities that we appreciate seeing in others, especially others who exemplify those qualities. These people, living or dead, are Saints for us. They lift our world into sanctity, that is, a realm or position above the mundane. They touch our souls, allowing us the vision of accomplishment, whether it be personal, professional or artistic accomplishment. Like incense, they evoke the cloud of otherness while at the same time tickling the senses. A Saint is an embodiment of the best that is in us.
All Souls Day, on the other hand, refers to those who, in the Catholic tradition, are experiencing Purgatory, or those still living, not yet officially sanctified souls. Here, we look to Latino cultures to get it right. They don't spend the day in some stuffy old Church; they go out to the cemeteries, bringing with them picnics, offering food and rink beloved by their departed relatives and friends. Then, right at the grave site, they have a party, celebrating the life of the Soul, sanctified or not. Indeed, the very action of celebration sanctifies those who have gone before us. For Latinos, El dia de los muertos is the experience of making a Saint, for Sainthood is recognition.
A day to remember all those who have led exemplary lives, especially those whose lives are not officially recognized by organized religion, is a good thing to have, and can lead us to a game of, "Who are your Saints?" Almost everyone can, with only a little thought, come up with a list of answers to the question. Sainthood is recognition. Each of us has, or aspires to, individual qualities that we appreciate seeing in others, especially others who exemplify those qualities. These people, living or dead, are Saints for us. They lift our world into sanctity, that is, a realm or position above the mundane. They touch our souls, allowing us the vision of accomplishment, whether it be personal, professional or artistic accomplishment. Like incense, they evoke the cloud of otherness while at the same time tickling the senses. A Saint is an embodiment of the best that is in us.
All Souls Day, on the other hand, refers to those who, in the Catholic tradition, are experiencing Purgatory, or those still living, not yet officially sanctified souls. Here, we look to Latino cultures to get it right. They don't spend the day in some stuffy old Church; they go out to the cemeteries, bringing with them picnics, offering food and rink beloved by their departed relatives and friends. Then, right at the grave site, they have a party, celebrating the life of the Soul, sanctified or not. Indeed, the very action of celebration sanctifies those who have gone before us. For Latinos, El dia de los muertos is the experience of making a Saint, for Sainthood is recognition.
Image: geocities.com
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