Beryl's Blog: Halloween

It’s almost here and I have so many memories of this special time of year.

Growing up in Crawford Park there seemed to be so many competing traditions. 

The night before was always dubbed mat night and involved “borrowing” a neighbor’s front door mat and replacing it with a “borrowed” mat from another neighbor.  It had a more sinister side too as I remember the older boys cutting down clothes lines and tying tin garbage cans onto the back of the old 52 bus which passed through the “Park” as it was referred to.

On mat night, it was also common to visit the local grocery story (Doucet’s) on the way home from school and pick up a bar of Ivory soap – the best there was for soaping or writing on neighbors’ windows.

It was also the night for ringing doorbells and running away as quickly as possible.

If you were lucky enough to have a dad who fished, you had easy access to black fishing line.  This was the main item required for frightening unsuspecting neighbors who liked to walk in the evening.  Two people were necessary for this to be successful.  One would stand behind the bushes on one side of the street while the second person would unroll the fishing line and cross over to the other side, then hide themselves and wait for someone to walk by.  As goal was to pick up the fishing line as the strollers passed, hopefully between their legs, and frighten them half to death.  It was imperative that you run as quickly as possible as you almost fell over yourself with laughter.

This coming Sunday, October 31st, is Halloween, or All Hallows Eve as it was once known – and is the day before All Hallows' Day, also known as All Saints' Day in the Christian calendar.  The name derives from the Old English 'hallowed' meaning holy or sanctified and is now usually contracted to the more familiar word Hallowe'en.

Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago, mostly in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1.

This coming Sunday, in place of our usual Gospel reflection, we will take the time to honor and remember those who have touched our lives in so many ways; grandparents, mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings and even neighbors…… 

The congregation will be invited to light a candle in their honor, lift their names and give thanks for lives which have been lived in love and service to others.

After recognition and thanks has been given, prayer will be offered.  At home this Sunday, you too are invited to honor those who have touched your lives with a candle and a prayer:

For all the saints who went before us,
who have spoken to our hearts,
and touched us with your fire,
We praise you, O God.

 For all the saints who live beside us,
whose weaknesses and strengths
are woven with our own,
We praise you, O God

For all the saints who live beyond us,
who challenge us to change us,
and change the world with them
We praise you, O God.

Amen

                   (From Celebrate God’s Presence, A Book of Services) 

May your memories of Halloweens past and the memories of pumpkins which lit your nights cheer you as we head into the season of shortening days and longer nights.

 Pastor Beryl, DLM