By: Mary Ellen Aldrich, Arts & Culture Editor
All Saints’ Day is a celebration in which some Christian denominations partake. Most commonly known to be celebrated by Catholic Christians, the holiday follows Halloween, falling on Nov. 1. It is known by a few names: All Saints’ Day, Feast of All Saints, Hallowmas (“Hallows” means “saints”; “mas” means “Mass”), All Hallows and, specific to the Roman Catholic Church, Solemnity of All Saints.
While All Saints’ Day is predominantly a Catholic practice, Some Protestant Christian denominations also celebrate All Saints’ Day, including Lutheran, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox and a few others. Pope Boniface IV, who was the Pope of the Catholic church from 608 A.D. until his death in 615 A.D., formally started All Saints’ Day as well as All Souls’ Day. All Souls’ Day is a separate celebration which occurs on Nov. 2.
While All Saints’ Day is meant to focus on all those who have passed away and attained heaven, it also puts an emphasis on saints who have been canonized in the doctrine of the Catholic Church. While some Protestant Christians do celebrate All Saints’ Day, their customs are often different from those of the Catholic Church. Protestants who celebrate the holiday tend to focus less on canonized saints and more on Biblical figures and people who died as martyrs.
Within the Roman Catholic Church, All Saints’ Day is a holy day of obligation, meaning practicing Catholics attend mass on All Saints’ Day unless they can’t for some legitimate reason.
The night before All Saints’ Day, Halloween, is sometimes referred to as All Hallows’ Eve. During the Middle Ages, communities would often prepare “soul cakes” (much like modern day donuts) and offer them to poor people in exchange for prayers. It’s speculated by some that this was the beginning of the trick-or-treat custom that is now an integral part of Halloween. Halloween was at one point called All Hallows’ Eve in reference to Nov. 1 being All Hallows’ Day, or All Saints’ Day. However, Halloween has since broken off as its own holiday and drawn from many other traditions.
While Halloween has its tradition of costume-wearing, All Saints’ Day has a similar tradition. On All Saints’ Day, children, and anyone else who wishes to participate, will dress as various saints and Bible characters. A small portion of those saints’ or Bible characters’ stories will be shared, and the rest of the congregation guesses which saint or character the individual is pretending to be. This practice is both educational and provides members of the congregation with something fun to do.
Many churches will have All Saints’ Day celebrations, and Roman Catholic Churches will have mass on All Saints’ Day. Saint Anne’s Church in Gorham will be having All Saints’ Day Mass at 9:30 a.m as well as 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 1 in observation of the holy day of obligation. They will also have a craft group 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and a prayer shawl group 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland will have All Saints’ Day Mass at 12:15 p.m. and 7 p.m.