In the Catholic liturgical calendar, November 2 is called All Soul’s Day.  It is a day to hold in prayer all those who have died. 

In many Latin countries, the day is celebrated as Dia de los Muertos — the Day of the Dead.  In some places it is celebrated with parades featuring macabre images, such as dancing skeletons.  People exchange sweets, including skulls formed from sugar. 

The celebrations of this week (Halloween, Samhain, All Souls, Dia de los Muertos) come down to us from an earlier age where people’s lives were more closely tied to the rhythms of the earth. As October became November, the harvest ended and people prepared for a long winter, storing food and fuel. The days grew shorter and the darkness and cold moved in. It is no surprise that death seemed closer and more real.

With the advent of central heat and fresh foods available year round, winter no longer holds the fear it once did.  But our bodies have not forgotten their ancient rhythms.  Something about this season calls us to slow down and spend time with the people we love.  As the holiday season moves into high gear, let’s try to stay focused on what really matters (I’ll give you a hint — it’s not tablescapes) and let the less important things slide.  If we aren’t having fun and sharing joy with the people we love, we’ve missed the point.