HINTON W.Va. (Hinton News) – Many people love Halloween, but actually there are three back-to-back celebrations honoring the dead. They are Halloween, All Saints Day and All Souls Day. All Saints and All Souls are sometimes celebrated as Day of the Dead.
These celebrations arose in the 800s AD in Europe from a complicated mix of evolved traditions and influences.
We all know about Halloween. Halloween was once known as a night of evil. Now it is better known by little ghosts and princesses coming to knock on doors. You shower them with treats to avoid their tricks. Halloween is short for All Hallows Eve.
The day following Halloween is All Hallows Day, or as the church calls it, All Saints Day. All Saints’ Day commemorates all the saints of the church, both known and unknown, whose lives blessed others.
The day following All Saints Day is All Souls’ Day. All Souls is a day of prayer and remembrance for the faithful departed, who might not have made it to heaven yet.
Everyone is invited to participate in this event!
On Friday, Nov. 1, the day after Halloween, Ascension Church will hold a Day of the Dead Celebration for the whole community. Day of the Dead is celebrated mostly in Mexico and Latin America and is called Día de los Muertos in Spanish.
To welcome back the spirits of your loved ones, you are invited to bring pictures and mementos to share, which can be placed on tables. Historically, people have displayed symbols of the four main elements: candles for fire to light the path, water to refresh the returning souls, food representing the fruit of the earth, and paper banners for wind. Marigolds, sugar skulls, salt for purification, and incense are traditionally used.
The church will open at 5:45 p.m. to set up the items you have brought. A potluck dinner begins at 6 p.m. The church asks that you bring a favorite food of your loved one or a Mexican dish. A grief counselor from hospice will be present during the evening.
After eating, participants will go upstairs for a Taize service. Taize is a service by candlelight. It consists mostly of repetitive songs, silence for meditation and short readings and prayers honoring those who have died.
After Taize, everyone will share desserts, and Mexican hot chocolate and ponder the displays.
Ascension is located at the corner of Temple and Fifth Ave in Hinton. They welcome all people. If you have questions, contact Sister Nancy at 304-712-9446.
