All Saints Day Instead of All Hallows Eve (or Halloween)

When we lived in El Salvador the people didn't celebrate Halloween (or All Hallows Eve as it is sometimes called).  Instead, the day of celebration was November 1, All Saints Day or Día de los Santos.  It was celebrated as a holiday throughout the country.  Not being Catholic and never having lived outside the U.S. those decades ago, this was new information to me.

All Saints Day was a happy day for the people of El Salvador because they believed that their dead children had become angels and were in Heaven with the saints.  Nearly every family had at least one little angel to remember and honor.  Though they missed and sorrowed over their little lost ones, they celebrated the child's place in Heaven.

On the morning of November first we found vendors in the town square selling both fresh and paper flowers and greenery.  There were beautiful wreaths of fresh jasmine and other flowers.  There were equally beautiful bouquets of crepe paper flowers of all colors and kinds.  They had a beauty all their own because they had been very finely handcrafted by women in the village.

There was a long, steady parade of people, with their arms full, going to the graveyard that morning.  Families walked together -- most of the families of the village, it seemed -- with their flowers and wreaths; with shovels, rakes, machetes, and other tools; with paint and paintbrushes.  At the cemetery they cleaned the grave sites and chopped the grass.  They repaired and painted the wooden crosses or put new ones on the graves.  Then they added the wreaths and flowers for their dear infant-angels.  Tears were shed, prayers offered, and memories shared while at the grave sites.

Going to the cemetery was a beautiful and unique experience, but it was only one aspect of the day of celebration.

In the evening, the children celebrated All Saints' Day by begging door to door for pennies or pieces of cooked squash.  They were happy to be given either.  The squash they ate.  The
pennies they used to buy candles which they took to the entrance of the church and lit.  Taking turns, several children kept vigil with the lit candles while others continued to beg.  As candles burned low and went out, the children replaced them with new ones.  It was a beautiful sight.  There was a peaceful serenity, an unselfishness to the evening celebration of the children's own making.  As far as I could tell no adults were involved other than giving squash or pennies and keeping the little shops open to sell candles.  

The next day, November 2, was Day of the Dead or Día de los Difuntos, sometimes known as All Souls Day.  It was a somber day without much celebration.

After a celebration like Día de los Santos it's hard to go back to the American way of celebrating Halloween.  But you can be sure I'll be at the store on Monday to buy Halloween candy at half price!

However you celebrate this season, I hope it's a enjoy it!

--Nancy.