Hallowtide

Some time ago, I had reason to read up on the origins of Halloween, and found myself drawn into the concept of the triduum of Hallowtide.

I don't think I had ever properly learned about it; indeed, as far as I know, All Souls' Day isn't even observed in Germany. So it was fascinating to read up on the triduum and the various customs that are, or were, observed.

I particularly liked the concepts of "souling" and "guising" - the first involves groups of people going around begging (or singing) for soul cakes, in return praying for the souls of the givers and their friends. Guising, on the other hand, has children going from house to house performing small party tricks such as reciting a poem or singing a song in exchange for money or food. A rather more interesting variant on the American trick-or-treating, guising is popular in Scotland and Ireland, and also involves costumes.

Personally, I'm always interested in food and song, so reading up on the practice of souling (which was popular in England from the medieval period up until approximately 1930) was more interesting that guising to me.

"Soul cakes" are small round cakes that are given out to soulers, and each cake eaten is said to represent a soul being freed from Purgatory. They're traditionally filled with allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger or other sweet spices, raisins or currants, and before baking are topped with the mark of a cross (often a simple one made with a knife). It seems that souling tended to take place on All Saints' and All Souls' Eve, and children and beggars would go around singing for soul cakes. I found a score and some lyrics for what appears to be a (or the?) traditional song. Check it out here!
And speaking of songs for All Saints' Day, also quite nice is the hymn "For All the Saints".

I find interesting that All Hallows' Eve is believed to be an eve where the veil between the material world and the afterlife is thinned, and thus in some cultures people visit the graveyards on this eve, placing flowers and candles, while in Wales this night is Nos Galan Gaeaf, when people avoid churchyards, stiles, and crossroads, as spirits are thought to gather there. There are many other practices in other cultures, of course, but this struck me as particularly interesting as Wales is so close to countries that observe the triduum of Hallowtide.

All Saints' Day is the 1st of November, and was referred to as Hallowmas by such characters as Shakespeare, though some have used the word Hallowmas to refer to the entire triduum of Hallowtide. There is some speculation as to why All Saints' Day is now observed on the 1st of November - some believe that it was chosen in the British Isles to replace or coincide with the Celtic festival of the dead, Samhain, but according to Oengus of Tallaght, All Saints' Day was once celebrated on April 20th. Interesting!

All Souls' Day, then, is celebrated the day after All Saints' Day - on the 2nd of November. It's a day of prayer for the dead, to complement the preceding day of the saints. Souling, ringing bells, and lighting candles to relieve the spirits in Purgatory came to be associated with this day.

Personally, I'd enjoy observing a few of the customs; learn the songs, bake soul cakes, bob for apples... (I never have before!) Maybe this year, in 2015, I'll try something a bit different around Halloween. After all, it's not like the Americanized celebration ever really made its way to Germany! (Though I will admit to enjoying a goth party on Halloween of 2014.)

We'll see! It's interesting, that's for sure. I think I'll read up on the four Gaelic seasonal festivals next, since Samhain is celebrated right around the same time. I'd be happy to hear comments of what you know about Hallowtide!