All Hallows Eve

Here's what occurs to me today....is that Halloween was originally known as All Hallows Eve.  "Hallow" is not a commonly used word in our contemporary lexicon.  Though we do say it in The Lord's Prayer..."hallowed be Thy name."   President Abraham Lincoln used it in his Gettysburg Address when he said that "we cannot hallow this ground."  Only God and the blood of soldiers could do that.  "Hallow" means "holy" which means "sanctified" which means "set apart for special purposes by and for God Almighty."

Centuries ago, All Hallows Eve may have been special for Druid pagans, but for Christians, it was a time to celebrate the lives of the saints who had gone on before them to Heaven.  All Hallows Eve was the night before All Saints Day.  Fires were lit within and without homes and castles, jack o' lanterns and gourdes were carved and burned oil or tallow candles for both outdoor and indoor light, and the poor and indigent of the rural and village communities would go door to door begging for alms.  An outdoor lit jackolantern indicated the residents of a home would be generous to beggars.

There is much mixed history on this topic, and I simply offer one of several Christian perspectives.  I very much can do without halloween, but always look forward to All Saints Day....a high holy day in the church wherein we remember great saints who served their Lord Jesus Christ with great love and abandon.  We ask their prayers as they are near the throne of God, and we trust in their faithful intercessions for us, as we hope to one day join them at the throne of the Holy One, where we will lay down our crowns of victory before Him and sing, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord!  God of power and might!  Heaven and earth are full of Your glory!  Hosanna in the highest!

Will you be there?