Thursday, November 1, 2012

All Saints Day

Well, Halloween is over. As a kid growing up in Poland I  wasn't exposed to it. We are celebrating All Saints’ Day (November 1) and All Soul Day (November 2). All Saints Day is a national holiday, a day of reflection and prayer. A day when people all over Poland visit the graves of loved ones to place candles and flowers on graves. Special candles, which can burn for many hours, are placed there so that departed souls can find their way through the darkness. Cemeteries are lit by many hundreds of these candles and at night the cemeteries can often be seen glowing from long distances. Many Poles travel long distances to visit family graves and to remember the dead. The holiday is also sometimes known as the Day of the Dead.

Day of All Souls (Zaduszki) is dedicated to prayers for family members and all those who died but are still in purgatory waiting their time to be able to enter the heaven. The masses are held in the churches just like the day before. Additionally, the names of the descendants are read by priests during the services and all pray together for these souls. This day is usually gloomier and more hazy and rainy than the November 1st. 

So, what should I be stitching today...  I do not think I have anything in my stash that relates to saints.. I know! I have an Irish Prayer


and I absolutely love it:

"May those who love you, love you.....and those who don't, may God turn their heart, and if he can not turn their heart, may he turn their ankle so you will know them by their limp"

It will be a new start but that's OK, I'm forgiving myself. Now lets gather floss and fabric!

So long my friends,
Evalina 

8 comments:

  1. Hello deary I really love reading about the all saint day..it is truly so wonderful and I first time saw so many candles in graveyard.truly amazing..
    Enjoy your stitching xxx

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  2. Thank you for teaching me something new today! That's a funny Irish prayer!

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  3. Love it : ) Growing up with Polish catholic relatives I am very familiar with All Saints & All Souls day. In catholic elementary school we always had a day off on November 1st.

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  4. Thank you for the information and an interesting post.

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  5. What an amazing photo. I didn't realised this happened but what a wonderful was to remember your loved ones.

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  6. Learned something new from this - thanks Evalina. That photo of the graveyard is spectacular - what a wonderful tradition.

    Love the Irish prayer. And you're right, a new start is forgivable for that! LOL

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  7. All Saints Day was my dear fathers birthday may he RIP.

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  8. I love when you share things like this. I come from a long line of no traditions. I find these things fascinating. Thanks for sharing.

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