As a child growing up in a Catholic family, Halloween took
on an air of a religious holiday more than the traditional trick or treat. Although we still observed this practice of
going door to door, we also partook of the practices of the church.
Allhallowtide is the days of Oct 31st known as All
Hallows Eve, November 1st as All Souls Day and November 2nd
was All Saints Day. It was believed that
souls who did not go straight to heaven would wander the earth until All Saints
Day when the heavens would open up for them.
It is believed that these souls could seek vengeance on other living
souls during this time. For this reason, people would disguise themselves to
hide their identities. Others would wear the costumes of the Saints to honor
those already in heaven. If a person was
considered a saint, martyr, or holy person, their souls went directly to heaven
upon their deaths.
On All Hallows Eve, in the early Christian times, people
would bake soul cakes. Children and the poor
would go begging door to door to offer prayers for the families departed and
were given soul cakes in exchange. On All
Souls Day, families would visit the gravesites and purify the ground. They would also walk the streets with candles
to light the way for the souls preparing to go to heaven on All Saints
Day. On this day, the parishes would
pray for all departed souls. On All
Saints Day, the parish people would pray for all the saints, thanking them for
their guidance, their sacrifices on earth and to ask their aid in delivering
the souls of the departed still on earth into heaven.
So although we would trick-or-treat like all the other
children in the neighborhood, we would also spend a lot of time in church
services and in prayer for those who had gone before us. Unlike today, we not only received candy, but
many families would bring us into their homes to share in warm cider, apples,
cakes and breads. It was a special time
to remember our friends and families still with us and share in our love for
each other.
Many persons believe that Halloween is taken from a pagan
holiday which it may be for some. But I
prefer our way only because it recognizes and remembers those who were part of
our lives or shared in our lineage so they would not be forgotten. It was a time to give thanks to those who
laid down their lives for our religion and for world peace, and a time for
those who devoted their lives to spreading the word of faith, even if it cost
them their lives. It is a time for
prayer, laugher, tears, and sharing. It
is a time for those who passed and those who still surround us.
Happy Allhallowtide to my friends and family. Prayers and thank you, to all those who have
gone before me. Love and peace to those
who still share this world with me.
The rural town they moved to had wooded areas to explore; wrinkled with creeks and small ponds. The pine reminded Wesley of Christmas year around.
Wesley watched the man next door leave every morning before the sun came up, carrying long poles and a green tackle box.
“Wesley, you are up, dressed and have eaten. I’m beginning to believe you are a vampire or something!” Mom’s comment always made him smile.
One morning, while playing with his yellow truck in the yard, he noticed the old man leaving even though the sun had been up for hours.
“Did you oversleep today?”
The old man scowled at the tyke wearing filthy blue overalls and no shirt. Ignoring the child, he kept walking down the road.
“Hey mister, are you deaf? I had a deaf dog once and he never came when I called him either.” Wesley caught up to him, imitating his stride.
“Do I look deaf to you?”
“Well people don’t exactly look deaf, they just is. You didn’t answer me when I asked you a question so I thought maybe you couldn’t hear me. My names Wesley Peters and I live next door to you. What’s your name?” Wesley stuck out his hand to shake but the man looked down at him with disgust.
“It’s not polite not to answer or shake a man’s hand when it’s offered. Didn’t your momma teach you anything?”
“My mother taught me not to stick my nose where it don’t belong. And I don’t shake filthy hands.”
“My mom says as long as I leave it outside I can get as dirty as I want. I change in the tub room and put my clothes in the washer so mom can launder them on Sunday. Then I take a bath. I’ve noticed that you leave before sun-up to go fishing.” Wesley kicked a disk-shaped rock, sending it shattering through the leafy growth.
“How do you know when I leave?”
“I can hear your front door since I’m always up when you set off. I was hoping that once we met, you would take me with you sometime.”
“You know how to fish, boy?”
“No sir, but I would like to learn.”
“Then have your father teach you.”
“My daddy went to live with my grandparents in heaven. Momma says they needed him more than we did so we can’t be selfish. If we are good, we can be with them someday.” The gruff old man didn’t see the tears. He was too busy trying to ignore the child. He regarded the boy when he heard him sniff.
“Well, you’ll have to bait your own hook and clean any fish you catch. I don’t wait on anybody.”
Wesley bobbed his head, grinning as they settled next to a flowing creek. The clear water moved slowly. Wesley saw minnows swimming by the shoreline.
“What should I call you mister?”
“Bud. You can call me Bud.”
“Well Bud, maybe I can catch some fish for the table tonight. Mom would be so happy if we didn’t have to eat only vegetables again.”