01 November 2009

The Hallows in Halloween


There is no organized celebration of Halloween as there is in the US. It has become recognized thanks at least in part to the commercial opportunity that it provides for stores to sell candy. Kids may visit family of close neighbors to beg for treats, but there is no organized "Beggar's Night" as we in the US associate with the holiday.

Rather, the primary holiday in Germany this time of year is the day the Halloween sprung from. The "Hallows" in "Hallows eve" that is the origin of Halloween refers to All Saints Day.

For Catholics, November 1st is All Saints Day (Alleheiligen) , a commemoration of the Saints and their sacrifices. This is followed by November 2 is All Souls Day (Allerseelen), a commemoration of departed relatives.

In Germany, the two are celebrated a single holiday, Alleheiligen, which seems to focus more on the departed relatives than on the saints. It is a day that people return to the towns and villages where their relatives are buried. The relatives' grave sites are cleaned and decorated for the celebration later in the day. This celebration consists of service in the nearby church or chapel, followed by a procession to the graveyards and a blessing of the graves. The blessing of the graves occur at dusk, lighted by the glow of the candles that have been placed on each of the graves. Afterward, families together in homes, often over 'kaffee und kuchen".

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