Pardon me for a long musing here – I just returned from our home in Croatia where my Mom still lives in every corner of the house, every piece of art she collected from her students, and definitely the garden she took care of for decades. With All Saints Day approaching, I visited her and my grandparents’ graves and laid flowers and lit lanterns.
On the long flight back I was thinking about the origin of this holiday where socially people celebrate the deceased members of their families. In Croatia, on this day everyone goes to cemeteries and pays tribute to the dead by bringing flowers and candles. I remember as a student in Zagreb going to Mirogoj and placing a candle on the resting place of my favorite writer – Miroslav Krleža.
So, I dug deeper into the origins — the holiday dates back to early Christianity, and over time the Vatikan has made adaptations — ultimately in 835 AD Pope George IV officially declared All Saints Day to be a holiday for the whole church. Instead of a fear of death, the church offered celebration of the Saints as powerful patrons and hope for eternal life. Over time, certain cultures, such as the Kelts, have created the folk customs of wearing masks for the night before, hence All Hallows’ Eve became Halloween. To me, it is interesting that the tradition of visiting cemeteries, decorating graves with flowers, and lighting candles, combines the theologies of both holidays. The candle symbolizes Christ as eternal light and our faith in the resurrection, while the flowers represent hope and the transience of earthly life.
In Croatia, after visiting cemeteries, people go to their homes and share a meal with wine, often sprinkled with memories of their deceased family members.
Just before I left Croatia, preparations for this holiday were obvious in earthly life – from flowers and lanterns that could be purchased in many shops, to people talking and making social plans. I am now finally back home in Boston and share with you a variety of these wine blends as a reminder that life and death intertwine in many dimensions.
May the memories of your loved ones live with you!
Mirena