« on: February 04, 2013, 10:16:18 PM »
10 Festivals that Honor the DeadIn almost every culture there is a belief that the dead should be honored, be it out of respect or a fear of ghostly retribution. In some cultures there are holidays set aside specifically to commemorate the dead, which vary from reserved veneration to a killer party. Here are ten festivals or holidays for honoring the deceased from across the world.10.All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day
All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day are religious holidays observed primarily in the Catholic Church. They are celebrated on the first and second of November directly following All Hallows’ Eve, that most sacred of holidays when parades of costumed kids celebrate by asking you for candy.
Considered a national holiday in many countries, All Saints’ Day has roots in early Catholicism as a festival to honour unknown saints and martyrs. The day after this—All Souls’ Day—is a more solemn holiday during which people commemorate the souls that are now in Purgatory. The prayers of the living are said to help speed the burning of minor sins in the purgatorial flames, and to help sanctify souls for the entrance into Heaven.
« Last Edit: February 04, 2013, 10:20:43 PM by MysteRy »
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