Happy All Hallows' Day!

Today is November 1st, the day after Hallowe'en (All Hallows' Eve).

Traditionally this was the night where the spirits (and sometimes not so incorporeal bits) of the dead were able to walk the Earth again.

In earlier times it was the practice in some cultures to light great bonfires and stay awake all night creating a great ruckus to keep these restless souls at bay until the sun rose. Other cultures would leave out food or specially baked goods for their ancestors, lest they feel slighted and cause mischief (in similar fashion to the fairies, with which there is a great deal of overlap).

Echos of this are found in modern Halloween parties, "tricks and treats", and the traditional "spooky" costuming (the current common Princesses and Power Rangers notwithstanding).

Where I grew up, in New Orleans, it was called "All Saints' Day", and it was traditionally the day when families would visit the (often elaborate above ground) tombs of their parents, grandparents, and further afield; check their condition, perform small maintenance tasks, replace (often artificial) flowers, and socialize and reminisce with family members sometimes not ever encountered at other times of the year. Not so different from so called ancestor worship practices in other cultures.

We've gotten so insulated, inured even, to the reality of death and decay in modern western culture, sickness and aging are uncomfortable topics for many, and reminders of death (particularly one's own impending one) can trigger a rapid change of subject, if not exit stage left.

These bodies are only temporary vehicles (avatars in the modern lingo) for who we really are, there's nothing to fear; Charon comes for all of us eventually to take us home.
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