In day November 2nd, in most Western countries, one of the most important religious rituals of the Catholic Christian tradition takes place, that is, the All Souls' Day. The main purpose of this date is to remember the memory of the dead, the deceased loved ones, as well as (for Catholics) pray for their souls.
According to the doctrine of Catholic church, the soul of most of the dead is in the purgatory going through a purification process. For this reason, the soul needs the prayers of the living to intercede to God for the suffering that afflicts them. In this context, All Souls' Day was known in the Middle Ages as "All Souls' Day”, the day that followed the “Hallowmas” (celebrated on November 1st).
Origin of celebration
From the time of early Christianity, which developed under the ruins of the Roman Empire, that the Christians prayed for their dead, especially for the martyrs, where they were often buried: in the catacombs underground of the city of Rome. The custom of praying for the dead was gradually introduced into the liturgy (a set of rituals that are performed throughout the year) of the Catholic Church. The main responsible for the institution of a specific date dedicated to the soul of the dead was the Benedictine monk
Odilo (or Odilon) of Cluny.Do not stop now... There's more after the advertising ;)
Odilo (962-1049) became abbot of Cluny, in Burgundy, France, one of the main abbeys built in the medieval world and responsible for important reforms in the clergy in the period of Low Middle Ages. On November 2, 998, Odilo made members of his abbey and all those who followed the Benedictine Order obligatory to pray for the dead. From the 12th century onwards, this date became popular throughout the medieval Christian world as the Day of the Dead, and not just in the clerical milieu.
Despite the process of secularization and secularization that the western world has gone through since the entry of Modernity, the 2nd of November is still identified as being a specific day to meditate and pray by the dead. Millions of people carry out the ritual of going to cemeteries to take flowers to place on tombstones in memory of those who have gone; others also carry candles and perform more traditional rituals, such as prayers, chants, etc.
By Me. Cláudio Fernandes
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
FERNANDES, Claudio. "November 2nd – All Souls' Day"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/datas-comemorativas/dia-de-finados.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
