WHY IS ALL SAINTS DAY CELEBRATED?
What is All Saint Day?
All Saints‘ Day is a celebration of all Christian saints with no special feast days of their own. Anglican and Protestant churches celebrate all saints day too. Western Church celebrate it on November 1st and First Sunday for Eastern Churches.
Background for All Saints Day
All Saints’ Day goes back to the fourth century. The Greek Christians kept a festival on the first Sunday after Pentecost (in late May or early June) in honor of all martyrs and saints that year.
“All Martyrs” as a commemoration began to be celebrated as early as 270 CE. Pope Gregory IV made All Saints’ Day an authorized holiday in 835 CE. Western Church celebrate it on November 1st to cover the pagan feast of Saman, lord of death.
All Saints’ Day is not to be confused with All Souls’ Day, which was first instituted at the monastery in Cluny in 993 CE and quickly spread among Christians
Symbols for All Soul’s Day
Symbols commonly associated with All Saints’ Day are:
- A sheaf of wheat.
- Rayed Manus Dei (hand of God).
- The crown.
- Symbols (including images) of individual saints.
The liturgical color is white on All Saints’ Day.
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