All Saints Day

Last night was our first "Catholic" All Hallow's Eve. It was neat to really learn more about this holiday and where it originated from and its meaning. Here are a few things our family did for Halloween and what we will be doing today:

Donuts for Breakfast - We got yummy donuts for breakfast and talked about Trick or Treating and where it came from. We talked about the history of All Hallow's Eve being the vigil of All Saints Day, and how this was a time when some believed that the veil between heaven and purgatory and the earth was thinned. We talked about how it is important to pray for those in purgatory, and how Trick or Treating started with people getting Soul Cakes in exchange for their prayers for the dead. We also talked about one legend that donuts came about because one cook noticed that the children coming for soul cakes were making light of it, and not remembering why they were getting these cakes or following through with their promise to pray. At that time, the shape of a donut, the neverending circle, represented everlasting life, and served as a reminder to those eating them.

Pumpkin Carving -  We were going to carve pumpkins... but never really got around to it. We will try to do that today! We missed out on it yesterday, but I don't think its too late to have a nice lesson about the history of turnip or pumpkin carving. And as a friend of mine says - scoop out the sins and put in the light of Jesus!

Trick or Treat - We did go out Trick or Treating. My sweet little kiddos dressed up. Before we left we talked about how there is real evil in the world, but that everything we would see on Trick or Treat is just pretend. But that because there is real evil, we should know that and pray for protection. We asked for the protection of St. Michael the Archangel before we went out.

Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host -
by the Divine Power of God -
cast into hell, satan and all the evil spirits,
who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.

Amen. 

 

All Saints Day Lesson - For us, my kids have no idea what All Saints Day even is. So we are having a short lesson on that. We are also going to read about each of our Name Saints to learn more about them, and talk about how we are also called to be Saints, and what that means.

Mass - and of course, we will be going to mass this evening as a family!