Yesterday in church, I was reminded just how important it was to honor our dead. The cycle of life and death is very important and while it is important to cherish our loved ones while they are with us, it's just as important to remember them when they're gone. We must remember our roots so that we may understand that from which we came and if we are to properly perpare for the future.
Yesterday, the chalice was lit by my youngest daughter Kathrynn, escorted by her proud father. Our minister did that deliberately (although a child always lights the chalice with an adults help) to help us remember the grand cirlce of life. Kathrynn is at the very beginning of her life at only four months and yet helped bring the thought of our mortality to the fore. And she led the procession when it was time to light a candle in remembrance of those that have passed on.
Many cultures have their own rituals, including Dio De Las Muertos and Samhain. However, the United States really doesn't have one of their own and many people today have gotten away from it. In fact, the Anglo Saxon tradition is to shy away from such morbid thoughts of death. I remember as a child, every year the last weekend before Halloween my mother would go to the local cemetary and clean the graves. She took just as much care of a grave that belonged to a complete stranger as she did with one of our own family members although she only ever left flowers on those of close friends and family members. However, that's not the only way you can honor the dead. Our custom of Jacko O'Lanterns began with simple turnips as not only a warning to evil spirits but as a way to light the path for any deceased family members who wished to drop by. Even something so simple as lighting a candle beside the picture of a lost loved one.
Reminded just how important this was, my children helped set up a small altar last night. I set up a small table and covered it with a plain black cloth. On it, we sat pictures that my children helped choose, and I set a few trinkets on it, flowers and candles. We also sat down and set up a family tree (for the immediate family) as well as looked at the huge family tree that my grandmother compiled. I of course was in tears by the time this was done. However, this was a wonderful lesson for my children in that it made us think of our history, of where we have come and where we are going.
This verse was sung during our meditation time during church. And although this is in English, it was actually sung in German.
All Souls' Day
Put on the table the frgrant mignonettes,
carry the last red asters here,
and let us again talk of love
like once in May.
Give me your hand, that I may secretly press it,
and if anyone sees it, it makes no difference to me,
give me only one of your sweet glances
like once in May.
Today it blossoms and smells sweet on each grave
one day in the year indeed the dead are free,
come to my heart and I have you again,
like once in May.
We Remember | 
