Many people associate October 31 with spooky costumes and Halloween candy. However, for Catholics around the world, this date also marks the beginning of a triduum of holidays. Every year, the Catholic Church celebrates the holidays All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day, November 1 and 2. These holy days are part of the three-day triduum to recognize and honor the departed, with All Saints’ Day dedicated to the saints who have reached heaven and All Souls’ Day dedicated to the souls in purgatory, according to britannica.com.
The origins of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day traces back to the pagan Celtic holiday of Samhain. Later, when the Celtic people converted to Christianity, Pope Gregory replaced this holiday with All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day. Although people celebrated the holidays in 609 CE, Pope Gregory ordered to be formally observed in 837 CE. In Old English, the word for saints is “Hallows,” thus, the night before All Saint’s Day became “All Hallow’s Eve,” which would later morphed into “Halloween,” according to britannica.com.
While American Catholics typically celebrate All Saints’ Day in church, in European countries, Catholics also visit the graves of loved ones where they leave flowers and candles. Filipinos reserve All Saints’ Day for family reunions. Family members hold vigils at the graves of the departed, according to usatoday.com.
Following All Saints’ Day, Catholics celebrate All Souls’ Day dedicated to the souls of the departed who exist in purgatory. Throughout the year, Catholics offer prayers to bring these souls into heaven. All Souls’ Day specifically commemorates the remembrance of these souls, according to britannica.com.
Within the Catholic Church, All Saints’ Day specifically highlights the connection between the saints in heaven and people on Earth. This holy day is a reminder to look towards the saints as role models and to live more inspired, faithful lives. Mrs. Considine, the Director of Upper School Campus Ministry, shared why All Saints’ Day is a significant day of holy obligation for Catholics.
“All Saints’ Day gives us the chance to recognize the thousands of saints in our midst, the saints that we know, and the saints that are yet to be,” Mrs. Considine said. “In that way, we look to the saints for their individual spirit and their individual holiness, and we try in our own way to follow them.”
All Saints’ Day is a holy day of obligation, which means Catholics should attend Mass. At Sacred Heart Greenwich, the community celebrated an All-School Liturgy. The liturgy included a full mass led by Father Michael Greco. The student cantors and the bell choir performed. Third graders dressed as saints, brought in the gifts, and spoke the prayers of the faithful.
“In looking at the lives of saints, it gives us an opportunity to reflect on how we can become saints,” Mrs. Considine said. “As part of our baptism, we are called to become saints, each and every one of us.”
Featured Image by Gabrielle Arredondo ’27
