Hallowe'en - The Gumby Legacy

All hallowe’en – All Saints’ Eve

Today has been a beautifully warm, sunny, late autumn day. Last weekend the clockswent back, supposedly day-light saving (introduced in the UK during the First World War) making the days seem so much shorter and the nights so much longer! Today is also the last in October, making it, what is commonly known now, Halloweens Night.

Traditionally, like Christmas and Easter, this was also a religious festival, known as All Souls’ Day with tomorrow, 1st November being known as All Saints’ Day. All Souls’ Day is the day when prayers are said for the dead – all dead, not just those close to one, with All Saints’ Day celebrating the life of all the saints recognised by christian churches. In more Christian countries, church services are held and candle may be lit on graves.

Halloween then, takes this theme and promotes the use of humour and pranks, preserving the link with the dead, churchyards and gravestones. And, of course, the use of pumpkins as Jack’o’Lanterns, maybe a bit of a link into bonfire night, fireworks, parties and goodies…

This festival was always associated with the US, and I remember visiting in 1991 at his time of year and the decorations everywhere defied belief! Now, many towns and villages in Wales show (perhaps a Celtic link) the excitement and delight in a festival, that coincides with the schools half-term, and gives us all an excuse to smile, brighten up and ignore the onset of winter a while longer…