History of All Souls’ Day: and Day of the Dead
All Souls’ Day by William-Adolphe Bouguereau
HISTORY OF ALL SOULS’ DAY: AND DAY OF THE DEAD
November 2 is All Souls’ Day or Day of the Dead. As I mentioned previously in my article on the History of Halloween, Allhallowstide includes these three holidays:
- October 31: All Hallows’ Eve (Halloween)
- November 1: All Hallows’ Day (All Saints’ Day, Feast of All Hallows, Hallowmas)
- November 2: All Souls’ Day
What’s the Difference Between these Holidays?
- Halloween: we have already discussed this at length.
- All Saints’ Day: commemorated those perished saints and martyrs (from the Greek word “witness” who died by persecution) who are now in Heaven.
- All Souls’ Day: is a day of prayer — especially in the Roman Catholic Church — for the souls of believers in Purgatory, who await having their souls purged of sin.
This holiday was not celebrated before the Middle Ages. All Souls’ Day is observed worldwide by Catholics and Anglicans, but not so much by other less-liturgical Protestant churches. Lutherans, especially in Europe, merged it with All Saints’ Day and tidied and decorated graves.
Anglicans also see it as an extension of All Saints’ Day, a commemoration to “remember those who have died.” It is an optional observance. During the English Reformation, observance lapsed, but it now serves as a reminder of the resurrection from the dead. Methodist churches also observe it as an extension of All Saints’ Day.
Why is there a Difference between liturgical Catholic and Anglican churches and other Protestant churches?
The Roman Catholic and Anglican churches support prayer for the dead, citing 2 Maccabees 12:45 from the Apocrypha.
Council of Trent
The Roman Catholic church officially added the Apocrypha to its Bible at the Council of Trent (1545-1563 A.D.) to counter the Protestant Reformation.
Most Protestants consider the Apocrypha deuterocanonical, not part of the biblical canon of Scripture, and do not pray for the dead.
Mexican influence of the Day of the Dead
In the late 20th century, Dia de Muertos, or Dia de Los Muertos, became popular in more extensive parts of Mexico than just the central and southern parts of the country. They migrated to the north and parts of the U.S. with Mexican immigrants.
“The Day of the Dead,” a public holiday in Mexico, honors the dead, especially children, and hearkens back to pre-Columbian indigenous traditions across Mexico and some parts of Latin America, Spain, Italy, and the Philippines.
Celebrated initially at the beginning of Summer before Spain’s 16th-century colonization, it has become syncretized in modern times with the days from October 31 through November 2. It is traditionally celebrated on November 1 and 2.
Even Google Doodles refers to the Day of the Dead.
Google Doodle for the Day of the Dead
Bill Petro, your friendly neighborhood historian
billpetro.com
