All Hallow’s Eve

Halloween is not just a secular holiday. In fact, we have a liturgy for All Hallow’s Eve, which we take from the “Book of Occasional Services.” In the rubrics, or those small italics which give us instructions concerning a service, it says that “Suitable festivities and entertainments may take place before or after the service, and a visit may be made to a cemetery or burial place.” Most of us stick with the festivities of a Halloween party or handing out candy to trick-or-treaters.

The term “Halloween” is shortened from “All-hallow-even,” as it is the evening before All Saints’ Day – or All Hallows' Day. Halloween celebrations originated with the Celtic tribes who lived in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France. For the Celts, this Festival, called Samhain, marked the end of summer and the coming of winter. On the night of Oct. 31, Samhain was celebrated, and it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to the earth. It was a time when the space that separates the world of the living and the world of the dead became thinner. This allowed spirits and ghosts cross over and they were honored and asked to grant luck and prosperity.

The modern secular holiday of Halloween has been shaped by a number of factors, including paganism, Christianity and commercialism. Because of Halloween’s association with death and evil, some Christians have avoided observing All Hallows’ Eve entirely. In the United States, Halloween is more about dressing up in costumes, and eating lots of candy. But for us, this is a part of our Christian celebration of the saints, those extraordinary Christians who have gone before us. Nov. 1 is All Saints’ Day and Nov. 2 is All Souls’ Day, when we commemorate all those who have died. The three days together, All Hallows’ Eve, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, are called All Hallowtide.

Services using the All Hallows’ Eve liturgy provide an opportunity to bridge the Christian traditions and the commercialism of the secular world. The Anglican or Episcopal tradition is a tradition of being the middle way, between Protestant and Catholic. In that same way, we can have both the Christian celebration of All Hallows’ Eve and the secular celebration of Halloween – we are a people of ‘Both – And.’ So, enjoy celebrating tomorrow with costumes and candy, and then come to church on Sunday, Nov. 1 to celebrate All Saints’ Day.

Prayer for All Hallows’ Eve

Almighty and everliving God, you have made all things in your wisdom and established the boundaries of life and death: Grant that we may obey your voice in this world, and in the world to come may enjoy that rest and peace which you have appointed for your people; through Jesus Christ who is Resurrection and Life, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen. (Book of Occasional Services, pg. 108)