All Saints Day -- Wednesday, November 1

It is important to drive home to our children the idea that Halloween celebrations are not just about candy and ghosts and goblins and jack-o-lanterns.  Just like Christmas and Easter, there really is a deeper meaning behind the festivities; so, just like Christmas and Easter, I recommend spreading out the Halloween celebration over a couple days to include All Saints Day and All Souls Day.  In the Catholic church, All Saints Day began as a day to remember all who have been martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ.  Eventually, the Catholic church began to include anyone who had died as a saint, whether canonized as a saint or not.  All Saints Day is sort of like Memorial Day.  On Memorial Day we honor the lives of all who died for our country, whether we know them or not.  On All Saints Day we honor the lives of those who died in service to the Lord, whether we know them or not.

All Saints Day offers us an opportunity to draw our children’s attention away from the gory pictures of death they may have seen recently at department store Halloween displays and focus it on eternal life with Christ.  Here are a few ideas to help you begin some important traditions on All Saints Day.