| Isabo |
11-01-2005 03:14 AM |
Yesterday was halloween but today is all hallows day
Yesterday was halloween (all hallows eve) but today is all hallows day (aka all souls day), the day when we traditionally remember our dead.
Does anyone beside me do anything? In Italy one typically goes and does a little maintenance at graves, trimming grass etc a few days before, then a church service on the day. It's a public holiday in Italy and many take a couple of extra days for a very long holiday weekend. The more dedicated hit services at several different churches and cemetaries. Church services in Northern Italy can be a little different to what anglo saxons expect. There are the very religious and devout church goers and then there are the others who hang about outside waiting for the mass to finish. A few years ago these were all men standing about in groups smoking, waiting for their ladies inside, unless it was raining when they would also go in. (What surprised me today was the number of groups of young women outside smoking, but very few men smoking). When the mass is finished there's a general exodus to the cemetary where the priest says a quick prayer and a blessing. Most put flowers and candles at the graves of their departed. It's to the point that perhaps it should be called florists day.
I'm not religious, I'm a sort of hazy CofE protestant, my husband is a bad catholic (the only acceptable religion for a man he says), my daughter is just apathetic to the whole idea except for when someones beliefs make her laugh - fortunately she does this in private. So how do I remember my dear departed? I take flowers to my in-laws grave on all hallows, I got on great with them and I miss my mother-in-law a lot. Although he wasn't a catholic I have a mass said for my father on the anniversary of his death, I light a candle for my mother on her birthday.
Anyone else?
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