How to Celebrate All Saints Day
Also known as All Hallows’ Day, Hallowmas or Feast of All Saints, All Saints Day is celebrated by some Christians every year on November 1. This holy day of obligation commemorates all saints, whether or not they are canonized. The feast has unclear origins, but it originally took place on May 13 and has been celebrated on November 1 by western churches since the 9th century. Here are a few ways your family can celebrate this feast.
Attend Mass
All Saints Day is a Holy Day of Obligation, meaning that all Catholics must attend Mass unless they are physically unable to do so. The Mass service given on All Saints Day is a solemn reflection of the saints who attained heaven.
Candle Lighting
Consider collecting pictures of and buying candles for some of the saints you intend to honor for All Saints Day. Help your child light a small candle by each picture, thanking that person for what they did during their life. This is a great way to help children understand what the feast day means and a nice way to honor those who have passed on.
Read About the Saints
Stories about the saints can be found in many places, from children’s books to works of religious nonfiction. One popular children’s book series is Once Upon a Time Saints, which highlights popular and lesser-known saints with a modern twist. This series does fictionalize some events to add context for modern children. For a more literal interpretation, there are always serious nonfiction books like Saint of the Day: the Definitive Guide to the Saints.
Dress as a Saint
Children already dress up for Halloween, so why not have them dress up for All Saints Day, too? If you’re open to wearing a costume for the day, join in on the fun! Help them pick a saint to dress up as, and then create the costume with them. See what you can learn about the saint so it becomes an educational experience as well as a fun way to spend the day.
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