Honoring Ancestors

A day to honor ancestors, those who have passed from this life before us is common. In the Western Christian practice, All Saints Day is the liturgical celebration begins at Vespers on the evening of 31 October, All Hallows' Eve (All Saints' Eve) aka Halloween, and ends at the close of 1 November. It is thus the day before All Souls' Day (a feast in honor of all saints), which respectfully commemorates the faithful departed ancestors. The word “hallow” is defined as: To make holy; to consecrate; to set apart for holy or religious use. To devote to holy or religious exercises; to treat as sacred with reverence and to honor as sacred. 

In Mexico, the Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de Muertos or Día de los Muertos) is a holiday traditionally celebrated on November 1 and 2, though other days, such as October 31 may be included depending on the locality. It largely originated in Mexico, where it is mostly observed, but also in other places. Although associated with the Western Christian observances of All Hallows' Eve, All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, it has a much less solemn tone and is portrayed as a holiday of joyful celebration rather than mourning The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pay respects and to remember family members who have died. 

In America, Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) is a federal holiday in the United States for mourning the U.S. military personnel who have fought and died while serving in the United States armed forces. It is observed on the last Monday of May at national cemeteries, by placing flowers and American flags on graves of military personnel. Decoration practices are localized and unique to individual families, cemeteries, and communities with many families honoring their ancestors by visiting and decorating their gravesites on Memorial Day, but common elements that unify the various Decoration Day practices are thought to represent predominantly Christian cultures in 19th century. Cemetery decoration traditions are thought to have more in common with one another today than with United States Memorial Day traditions which are focused on honoring the military dead.

A friend of mine in Japan told me that their country holds a three-day festival called “Obon” in August to honor and remember their Ancestors. Obon is a fusion of the ancient Japanese belief in ancestral spirits and a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one's ancestors. This Buddhist–Confucian custom has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people return to ancestral family places and visit and clean their ancestors' graves when the spirits of ancestors are supposed to revisit the household altars. It has been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years. 

1 Kings 8:57 "May the Lord our God be with us as He was with our ancestors; may He never leave us nor forsake us."

Happy All Hallow Eve and have a blessed All Saints Day as you honor your ancestors.

In Christ, Brian