From the Chaplains

All Saints and Halloween

The end of October is almost upon us. It is a special time of festivals for many cultures and faiths.

If you and/or your family and friends are celebrating one, or a combination of festivals over the coming days, please accept my very best wishes for your celebration. I hope it is a special time filled with faith, friends and family.

For Christians this is also a special time of year. Friday 1 November is All Saints Day. The evening before this is known as All Hallows Eve, or more commonly known Halloween.

This is a day with a long history that draws on a range of traditions and faith origins. Originally it was two separate celebrations – All Saints Day and Samhain.

All Saints Day was established by the Roman Church. It was set aside to honor the Saints of the faith that had passed away. It was originally celebrated early in the year.

Samhain was a Celtic Festival. It was a harvest festival, and celebrated the changing of the seasons, The Celtic believed that during this time the veil that separated the world of the living and the dead was ‘thin’ during this time. They celebrated and rejoiced as their loved ones who had died ‘walked’ more closely with those who were living.

History suggests that Saint Patrick was responsible for the coming together of the two celebrations. He noticed that the now predominately Christian Celtic people still enjoyed this festival and together with the Pope of the day, resolved to bring the two celebrations together.  

Today, All Saints Day and All Hallows Eve is an opportunity for everyone to celebrate and remember the saints of the past, including the special people in our lives that we have loved and lost in our own families and communities, regardless of our faith or cultural background.

There are many things I love about this celebration as we know it in Australia. I really value the way that the modern celebration now draws from all sorts of culture and faiths. More recently we can see the strong influence of Southern and Central American Culture and tradition.

I find the connections to the earth and the harvest powerful. Through them we are reminded to consider the disproportionate abundance and scarcity of food throughout the world, and to honor those who continue to work the land for all of us.

But most importantly for me, I value the way that this celebration reminds us to give thanks for those who we have loved and lost to death. This is a special day where when we can take a moment to pause and remember the saints of our past who formed and nurtured us and have now become part of us through our memories. It is a special day where we can pause to celebrate the people who have made the world a better place for us.  This should not be a scary thing but a special thing, that is both sad and happy because it is filled with love.

This Halloween I invite you to do something to honor those people in your life. Perhaps you might light a candle or say a prayer. Or do something that you enjoyed doing with them when they were still with you.  Remember their love and the love that you still have for them.

Whatever you do, have a safe and hallowed Halloween.

Danielle Hemsworth-Smith

Assistant Chaplain