Did you know that the true substance of Halloween belongs to the Catholic Church?
Any violence, gore, sensuality, or demonism now commonly associated with Halloween is not, in fact, true to the origins of this holiday (by the way, the word “holiday” comes from the words “holy day”).
The word “Halloween” comes from All Hallow’s Eve which is the vigil of All Saints Day—also known as All Hallows Day. As you recall, the word “hallow” means “holy” and All Saints Day is a major feast on the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar. All Saints Day honors not only the saints in heaven whom we know by name, but also any saints in heaven whose names are unknown.
Halloween is on October 31st because All Saints Day is November 1st. All Souls Day is on November 2nd. These three days taken together are the “Days of the Dead,” a triduum of feasts also called Allhallowtide, Hallowtide, or Hallowmas (“Hallow” meaning “saint” or “holy” and mas meaning “Mass”).
Halloween is, therefore, the first day of Allhallowtide, the time of year when the living (the Church Militant) honor all the dead in Christ: the saints in heaven (the Church Triumphant) as well as all the holy souls detained in purgatory on their way to heaven (the Church Suffering). It is a beautiful celebration of the Communion of Saints!
As we enter a day filled with candy and ghosts and goblins running the streets, let’s remember the true meaning and original goodness of Halloween.
Smitten With Goodness 