25-10-2023
Culture
How is All Saints' Day celebrated?
How is the solemnity of All Saints celebrated and how does this religious festivity was born? Let's see together some details
The festivity "All Saints' Day" (from Latin "Omnium Sanctorum") was established to honour not only canonized saints, but also those who are still not yet officially recognized by the church.
The origins of this feast day are ancient and are combined with the tradition of Celtic culture. It was only starting with Pope Boniface IV who converted the event into a Christian festivity in 610. This, however, continued to be celebrated on May 13, at the same time as the consecration of the Pantheon. Only a century later Pope Gregory III moved the celebration to November 1, in order to overlap the solemnity with the Celtic festival of Samhain.
As far as it concerns the old continent, Poland has a tradition well-rooted in popular culture. On these days, most of the faithful attend Holy Mass and then the visit of their beloved ones in cemeteries, greeting them with candles and elegant flower compositions. This is a holiday that is particularly felt by Polish Christians.
As mentioned before, this Christian solemnity has ancient roots and it is important since it celebrates the main witnesses of the faith. According to this, there is a constant search for tangible religious symbols able to strengthen the faithful's closeness to their saint.
It is not only about statues of saints but also religious articles such as medals, icons, or even simply holy cards. Religious medals are one of the most known devotional items with a great protective meaning. Religious icons, have the ability to communicate holiness through art. And finally, there are also holy cards, which often help to convey a sense of protection to the faithful.
These certain religious articles are often made of materials of great symbolic value. Wood, for example, represents human nature and its transformation through faith. Metal, such as gold and silver, symbolizes purity. Statues, above all, capture the essence and spirituality of the saints, becoming objects of inspiration for believers. Not to be outdone is the paper, one of the main means of disseminating prayers.
The creation of these sacred works is not only an artistic act but also a means to connect with the divine. Religious objects become channels through which the faithful seek to approach the values embodied by the saints, learning from their virtues and seeking their intercession.
In short, the Solemnity of All Saints is an occasion to reflect on the saints' lives and to honor them through meaningful religious objects. The choice of precious materials and the attention to the quality of realization reflect the respect and devotion of the faithful towards those who have been extraordinary examples of faith.(Festa di Ognissanti: storia, origini e significato)
The origins of this feast day are ancient and are combined with the tradition of Celtic culture. It was only starting with Pope Boniface IV who converted the event into a Christian festivity in 610. This, however, continued to be celebrated on May 13, at the same time as the consecration of the Pantheon. Only a century later Pope Gregory III moved the celebration to November 1, in order to overlap the solemnity with the Celtic festival of Samhain.
HOW SOME COUNTRIES CELEBRATE ALL SAINTS' DAY AND SOULS' DAYS
All Saints' Day and the Souls' Day are both festivities, which are still celebrated all over the world, although they change slightly from one country to another. The most particular and well-known cases are those of Mexico ("Día de los Muertos") and the Philippines, which we had already discussed in a previous article (All Saints' Day and the Feast of the Commemoration of the Dead). In both countries these days are lived with extreme positivity and joy. The main rule? Going to masses, but also showing your happiness.As far as it concerns the old continent, Poland has a tradition well-rooted in popular culture. On these days, most of the faithful attend Holy Mass and then the visit of their beloved ones in cemeteries, greeting them with candles and elegant flower compositions. This is a holiday that is particularly felt by Polish Christians.
ALL SAINTS' DAY: FROM STATUES TO MEDALS
After having briefly talked about some cases of Soul’s Day celebration, now we go back to write about All Saints' Day.As mentioned before, this Christian solemnity has ancient roots and it is important since it celebrates the main witnesses of the faith. According to this, there is a constant search for tangible religious symbols able to strengthen the faithful's closeness to their saint.
It is not only about statues of saints but also religious articles such as medals, icons, or even simply holy cards. Religious medals are one of the most known devotional items with a great protective meaning. Religious icons, have the ability to communicate holiness through art. And finally, there are also holy cards, which often help to convey a sense of protection to the faithful.
These certain religious articles are often made of materials of great symbolic value. Wood, for example, represents human nature and its transformation through faith. Metal, such as gold and silver, symbolizes purity. Statues, above all, capture the essence and spirituality of the saints, becoming objects of inspiration for believers. Not to be outdone is the paper, one of the main means of disseminating prayers.
The creation of these sacred works is not only an artistic act but also a means to connect with the divine. Religious objects become channels through which the faithful seek to approach the values embodied by the saints, learning from their virtues and seeking their intercession.
In short, the Solemnity of All Saints is an occasion to reflect on the saints' lives and to honor them through meaningful religious objects. The choice of precious materials and the attention to the quality of realization reflect the respect and devotion of the faithful towards those who have been extraordinary examples of faith.(Festa di Ognissanti: storia, origini e significato)