Holy Evening

The Forerunners of Christ with Saints and Martyrs by Fra Angelico Created in the 15th Century

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. Psalm 116:15 KJV

I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Leviticus 11:44 NIV

Sometimes I marvel at how things can change so drastically.

Did you know that the word Halloween is of Christian origin meaning “hallowed evening” or “holy evening”?

I don’t know many places that Halloween has any resemblance to a Holy Evening.

Halloween is suppose to be the evening which the celebration of All Saints’ Day, also known as All Hallows (Saints) Day begins. It initiates time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed believers. The celebration is to be one that is observed in honor of all the saints, known and unknown, who have gone before us into heaven.

The liturgical celebration by the Catholic Church and several Protestant denominations, begins with an All Saints Memorial Vespers (church service) on the evening of October 31 and ends at the close of November 1. In this beautiful service, we are to remember Christian family and friends who have died in the past year.

The special service often includes music, inspirational readings, and meditations to remember loved ones and celebrate life. Some churches have begun a traditional reading of the names of members who have died during the past year. Thus the celebration begins the evening before All Saints’ Day, on All Saints’ Eve or “hallowed eve”, meaning holy evening.

The word Halloween or Hallowe’en dates to about 1745 and means “hallowed evening” or “holy evening”. It comes from a Scottish term for All Hallows’ Eve (the evening before All Hallows’ Day). In Scots, the word “eve” is “even”, and this is contracted to “e’e” or “een”. Thus, over time, (All) Hallow(s) Eve(n) became known as Halloween.

I plan to celebrate a Holy Evening tonight instead of anything related to the horror evening celebrated by many.

Why don’t you join me by doing the same?!

And, Happy Holy Evening!