Sunday 2 November 2014

All Souls




The first two days of November are Allerheiligen (Nov. 1) - All Saints
and Allerseelen (Nov. 2) - All Souls.

Related to Halloween
these two holy days are devoted to all of the saints (known and unknown) 
and to all of the “faithful departed,” respectively. 

In medieval English, All Saint's Day was known as All Hallows.
 All Hallows Eve (Oct. 31) came to be called “Halloween.”



Ruins of    
 All Saints' Abbey (Kloster Allerheiligen) 
which was a Premonstratensian monastery near Oppenau 
in the Black Forest, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

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All Soul's Day is always November 2,
it is a time when families fondly remember the deceased.


All Soul's Day, 1888
Jakub (or Jakob) Schikaneder 
(February 27, 1855, Prague – November 15, 1924, Prague)

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 All Soul's Day is a day of remembrance 
for friends and loved ones who have passed away. 


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This comes from the ancient Pagan Festival of the Dead, 
which celebrated the Pagan belief that the souls of the dead would return for a meal with the family. 
Candles in the window would guide the souls back home, and another place was set at the table. 
Children would come through the village, asking for food to be offered symbolically to the dead, 
then donated to feed the hungry. 

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The traditions of the Feast of All Souls began independently of the Feast of All Saints
The Feast of All Souls owes its beginning to 7th century monks 
who decided to offer the mass on the day after Pentecost for their deceased community members. 
In the late 10th century, the Benedictine monastery in Cluny, France,
chose to move their mass for their dead to November 2, the day after the Feast of all Saints.
 This custom spread and in the 13th century, 
Rome put the feast on the calendar of the entire Church. 
The date remained November 2 
so that all in the Communion of the Saints might be celebrated together.


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 Wish you all a peaceful and reflective Sunday.



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Jacub Schikaneder:
Schikaneder came from the family of a German customs office clerk. Despite the family's poor background, he was able to pursue his studies, thanks in part to his family's love of art; an ancestor was Urban Schikaneder, the elder brother of the librettist Emanuel Schikaneder. After having completed his studies in Prague and Munich (1871–1879), Schikaneder, alongside Emanuel Krescenc Liška (cs), was involved in the furnishing of the royal box in the National Theatre in Prague; however, this work was lost in a fire in 1881. After his work in the National Theatre, Schikaneder travelled through Europe, visiting Germany, England, Scotland, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy and France. From 1891 until 1923 he taught in Prague's Art College. Schikaneder counted amongst those who admired the Munich School of the end of the 19th century.
He died in 1924 and was buried in Vinohrady Cemetery in Prague.
info source  here

3 comments:

  1. We don't celebrate "All souls" here but I love its atmosphere. Pieces of Mozard are so much appreciated!
    Have a peaceful and cozy evening dear Karin!
    Olympia

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  2. Hello Karin
    A beautiful tribute to All Saints and All Souls. You image of the lighted graveyard is poignant.
    Enjoy the month of November

    Helenx

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  3. Hello Karin
    Hope life is great in your corner of France. Today, I spoke of you on my blog.
    Kind wishes
    Helen

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