Ancient Blessings

Samhain ~ an ancient Celtic festival meaning roughly "summer's end" and celebrated as a time between the light and the dark. Bonfires lit the night. People dressed in masks and costumes to remember the dead and sometimes to laugh and mock ghosts so they would not return to haunt. It was and is a blessed ritual.

All Hallow's Eve ~ a more modern Christian celebration of the saints. For a long time "saints" were very specific folks so declared by the Catholic church for miraculous works of healing both before and after their deaths. Scripture speaks of saints as very ordinary folks who believe and are part of the "household of God." Whoever the saints are in your belief, this is the time of year to remember and bless them.

Halloween ~ a modern celebration of fun and delight for children and adults alike. Decorations go up earlier each year; little ones choose costumes from their imaginations; trick or treat brings in lots of candy; gentle pranks are laughed at; squeals of psuedo-fright are heard through out the neighborhood. Parties are held. Town centers and malls hold trick or treat times to insure the safety of the kids. All in all a fun time.

As I have pointed out in these pages before, there is much more that joins us than divides us. Early Christians heading into northern Europe found people celebrating the dead and decided to fit in by using the time to celebrate the saints. The masks and costumes never went away and come to us today in the fun of our children and for adults who enjoy parties and scary houses and horror movies.

This weekend no matter what you do, you participate in an ancient and blessed tradition. May you be aware, enjoy and be blessed by it all ~ blessed be