HALL0W-EVEN

When costumed characters wandered to my dwelling entrance on October 31st, seeking blessings of candies, chips and other non-Canadian Food Guide recommendations, I wondered, 'do they realize they are following a historical trend reaching back into the antiquity of human history?'.

Maybe ... maybe not ... but ...

'Halloween' started its journey as 'All Hallows Even', sometime around the 3rd century when the Christians designated a day to remember 'martyrs' (those courageous souls who died rather than recant their belief in Jesus Christ).

In the 9th century, November 1st was declared 'All Hallows Day' or 'All Saints Day".

If 'All Hallows Day' was November 1st, presto... October 31 was the natural choice for 'All Hallows Eve' or 'Even'.

Slowly, over the decades, October 31st took on a life of its own. A world filled with tricks, treats, dress-ups, etc, until the 16th century, when 'All Hallows Eve' gave up the ghost (so to speak) and became 'Halloween'. And the rest, as they say, is history.

In modern times, thanks to entrepreneurial creative minds, with an eye to marketing and profit making, Halloween has become a smashing success.

Movies, popular songs, advertizers and institutions have jumped on the goblin band wagon to ride into that unknown space where 'things go bump in the night'.

Staunch realists put aside their principles of believing only what can be scientifically proven, abandoned their realism, donned unimaginable garments and acted out dramas that normally they would never, never perform or condone.

Why???

Only the shadow of every individual Halloween psyche knows for sure.

But after Halloween's energy spurts and sugar highs have subsided, slide into November 1st thinking about a 'saint' you know or have known.

Can't remember any? MMMMMMMMM

A SAINT, according to the Oxford Dictionary, is a 'very virtuous person', and 'virtuous' means a person possessing or showing moral rectitude, and 'rectitude' is defined as 'moral uprightness'.

Does that help?

No?

Then...

Think of people who have been positive models for you.

On November 1st, say words of appreciation for their existence on this earth, whether the day be called 'All Hallows' or 'All Saints'.