Part II of a III Part Series
All Saints Day began in the 8th century it was established by Pope Gregory IV. It replaced the Celts New Year which was called Samhain (meaning summer's end) which was from the Druid religion. The Druid religion existed several hundred years before the Christian Era in Europe. At that time many people were in touch with nature because they lived off the land and animals that were on that land. The seasons actually were the way they timed their activities for the year.
Samhain was the end of the summer. It was a harvest time and a time to make ready for the long winter ahead. However, it was also a spiritual time. The Druids believed that during the different times of the cycle of the seasons that there were certian times when the worlds between life and death were the closest and this was one of those dates. Although, All Saints Day replaced Samhain, the Europeans still recognized those who were already deceased. Especially, those who had been martyrs for Christianity. Later, those who were cannonized by the Catholic church as saints were also recognized. They celebrate masses on this day and say prayers for the deceased as well.
Mexico, celebrates this date with masses and by making altars in their homes for their deceased. These altars include a picture of the deceased, flowers, sugar candy skulls, chocolate, candles, bread, and the food that the deceased like the most. The mexicans also visit the grave of the deceased and clean their gravestones. Also, leaving flowers on the grave. Afterwards, there is a feast.
Wales has many folklores that go along with different feastdays and those are included on the following website. http://www.red4.co.uk/Folklore/trevelyan... In all of Europe, Catholics celebrate All Saints Day also known as All Hallows Day. In France, Italy, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. Each different country has had different events that http://goeasteurope.about.com/travel/goe... have marked their countries and effected the way they celebrate this feastday.
The Daily Catholic had two articles about All Saints Day. One was called Catholic Call To Reclaim Halloween From The Pagans and Halloween Origins. http://www.dailycatholic.org/issue99oct/... There is also a page called The History Facts About Halloween that shows a view of the pagan side of the feastday. It is at http://www.happyhalloween.at/history.html and includes information about Samhain, the celts and the festival of the dead.
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