Perpetuating the past in stone and flowers

Holidays are celebrated in different ways depending on the country. These different ways highlight how people can create their own versions of world-wide holidays and make something entirely new. Throughout the globe, there is a certain time of year connected with celebrating death, usually from October 31^st to November 2^nd. However, the ways in which it is celebrated are as diverse as people themselves.

We know that historically, the Celts dressed up as ghosts to avoid harm at night time on October 31^st, since they believed that dangerous spirits visited them on November 1^st. People carried lanterns made of turnips, which were gradually supplanted by pumpkins. They also gave food to spirits, which later developed into giving food to poor people.

All Saints' Day (also known as All Hallows Day), November 1^st, became a holiday in 835, and All Souls' Day, November 2^nd, in about 998. On All Souls' Eve, families stayed up late and ate small "soul cakes". At the stroke of midnight, a moment of silence was observed. Candles were lit in every room to guide the souls back to their earthly homes with a glass of wine on the table to refresh them. Today this period is called Halloween in areas of northern England, and it includes the tradition of children going from door-to-door "souling" (i.e., singing songs) for cakes or money.

In the United States, Halloween is now the second most popular holiday (after Christmas) for decorating. Culturally is it considered as a way of approaching death and monsters with greater courage. Accordingly, people dress up as the things that scare them the most. Some people hold Halloween parties, which usually involve games like bobbing for apples. Others may visit “haunted” houses, go on haunted hayrides, where scary stories are told with costumed people jumping out to scare the riders, or go trick or treating, usually receiving a bag of candy. Scary movies or television programs are also popular viewing during Halloween, and many television stations often will have a movie or even marathon programmes looking at ghoulish stories.

In November, Christians also consider the 1^st, All Saints’ Day, and the 2^nd, All Souls’ day, as the days of the dead. Culturally speaking, these days are celebrated more as a reflection on the deaths of loved ones and the possibility of salvation in the afterlife.  All Saints’ Day commemorates those who have attained salvation in heaven. All Souls’ Day recalls the faithful dead and people pray for them to help them join the saints in heaven. On both days, most stores and businesses are closed out of respect. Most Milanese leave Milan for these few days, and go to their hometown to visit the family chapel, where usually their ancestors are buried together. Parents take their children to the sites of their relatives to remember them and emphasize the importance of living a virtuous life.

In Milan, there are several cemeteries in the city for the Milanese people. Those who cannot return to their hometown may go to pray in the Cimitero Monumentale, located in Piazzale del Cimitero Monumentale, near the center of Milan. It is a complex architectural landscape whose contents can be interpreted at different levels. Beautiful and enigmatic, Cimitero Monumentale is a tourist spot due to the artistic nature of the statues and chapels. Reading the names engraved in the stone and bronze focuses on the privileged Milanese of both past and present, since just being there is proof of economic wealth and social status. The cemetery not only offers a superb selection of artistic styles from 1865 on, but also provides a history of the city and the variety of cultures possessed by its inhabitants.

 
        Whichever way this period is celebrated, whether with the family or promenading down the street in a fancy costume, it is important to realize that the differences in the celebration are what make it unique to each culture. Rather than focusing on the variations and causing division, it should be stressed that holidays are observed to bring people together. Celebrate this time period as you wish but remember to spend it with family and friends!

Nicola Churchill and Irene Ojo-Felix