Attend Mass for the Vigil of All Saints’
Hallow’s Eve, or October 31, is a vigil night before the solemn celebration of All Saints’ Day. Attending the Vigil Mass is a way to reflect on our call to sainthood and to remember the saints who are already in heaven. This Mass often has readings and prayers centered on the victory of Christ over sin and death, preparing us spiritually for the next day’s solemnity. It’s also a fitting way to pray for the dead, remembering that our earthly life is just a temporary step on our journey to heaven. Traditional Latin Mass parishes may offer this vigil, and you can find one nearby here.
Carve Pumpkins and Tell the Story of the Jack-O’-Lantern
While you carve pumpkins with your family, you can share the legend of the Jack-O’-Lantern. It’s an old Irish folktale that has been passed down through generations:
The Story of the Jack-O’-Lantern:
There was once a man named Stingy Jack who was known for his miserly and wicked ways. Jack had tricked the devil on several occasions, trapping him in clever bargains. Once, Jack convinced the devil to climb a tree to fetch him a piece of fruit, and then quickly carved a cross into the trunk, trapping the devil in the tree and forcing him to promise not to claim Jack’s soul when he died.
When Jack eventually passed away, he discovered that his life of wickedness prevented him from entering heaven. He went to hell, but the devil, honoring their bargain, refused to take Jack’s soul. Left with no place to go, Jack wandered the dark earth, seeking a resting place.
The devil, amused by Jack’s plight, gave him a single burning ember from the fires of hell to light his way. Jack carved out a turnip and placed the ember inside to create a lantern. Since that day, Jack has wandered the earth, carrying his glowing Jack-O’-Lantern, forever searching for peace.
The Christian Perspective:
While the Jack-O’-Lantern story is a spooky folk tale, it can be given a Christian twist. The flickering light in the Jack-O’-Lantern can be a reminder of the souls in purgatory, wandering between heaven and hell, in need of our prayers to help them reach eternal rest. As you carve pumpkins, explain to children that just like Jack’s lost soul, those in purgatory await God’s mercy and our prayers can help lead them to heaven.
Decorate Apple Dolls
Apple Dolls are an old folk craft that originated from drying and carving apples to resemble faces, creating charming, rustic dolls. During Hallowtide, this craft can be a fun way to talk about death and the resurrection. The shriveled apples remind us of mortality, but they can be decorated as saints, angels, or holy figures, turning the decaying fruit into something beautiful—symbolizing how Christ’s resurrection transforms death into eternal life.
Instructions for Making Apple Dolls:
Materials:
- 2-3 large apples (Granny Smith or any firm variety works best)
- Lemon juice (to prevent browning)
- Salt
- Peeler or small paring knife
- Cloves or peppercorns (for eyes)
- Fabric scraps (for clothes)
- Sticks, dowels, or pipe cleaners (for arms)
- Cotton balls (for stuffing the head and body)
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Prepare the Apples: Peel the apple, leaving the core intact. Soak the peeled apple in a mixture of lemon juice and salt for about 10 minutes to prevent browning.
- Carve the Face: Using a small knife or peeler, carefully carve a face into the apple. You can make indentations for the eyes, nose, and mouth. Don’t worry if the features seem exaggerated—they’ll shrink during the drying process. Insert cloves or peppercorns into the eye sockets to give the appearance of eyes.
- Dry the Apples: Hang the carved apples in a dry, well-ventilated space (such as in front of a sunny window or near a heat source) for about 2 weeks, until they are completely shriveled and resemble little heads.
- Make the Body: While the apples are drying, you can assemble the body. Use sticks or dowels to form a simple cross shape, wrapping the center to secure the structure. Cover the arms and body with fabric scraps to form clothing, leaving the top open to attach the head later.
- Assemble the Doll: Once the apple heads are fully dried, gently stuff cotton balls or fabric scraps into the center of the apple to fill it out. Attach the head to the stick frame by pushing the stick up through the bottom of the apple head. You can use extra fabric to create a headscarf, hood, or hat to complete the look.
- Decorate: Use additional fabric and materials to decorate the dolls as saints or angels. Each doll can represent a saint or someone your family prays for during Hallowtide.
This craft provides an opportunity to talk about the process of death and decay, but also the transformation and new life we have in Christ. Display the dolls as part of your All Saints’ Day decorations!
Read Scary Stories and Teach How Christ Died to Conquer Death and Damnation
Scary stories can be part of your evening, helping children understand the reality of evil, death, and damnation, but also the power of Christ’s victory over these forces. Share traditional tales of haunted houses, ghostly apparitions, or Catholic legends of souls wandering in purgatory.
Afterward, you can connect these stories to the truth that Christ has already conquered sin, death, and the devil. A beautiful story to share is that of St. Michael defeating Satan, or other saintly accounts where evil is defeated by faith and prayer. Explain to children that while evil exists, it has been overcome by Jesus’ death and resurrection. This is a way to turn fear into faith and remind them that we live in the light of Christ’s victory.
Host a Fire and Potluck with Games
Holding a bonfire on Hallow’s Eve can symbolize Christ’s light shining in the darkness. Invite family and friends to join in a potluck, where everyone brings a dish to share. Around the fire, you can play classic autumn games, such as bobbing for apples, three-legged races, or pumpkin bowling.
Incorporate prayers for the deceased and for the holy souls in purgatory during the evening. As the fire burns, talk about how Christ’s light leads souls from darkness into the eternal light of heaven. You might even read Psalm 23, reflecting on the theme of God’s guidance through death.
Go Trick-or-Treating!
Trick-or-treating can be a fun family activity, but with a Catholic twist. Before heading out, explain the tradition of “souling,” where people would go door to door offering prayers for the dead in exchange for food. Encourage children to say a short prayer for the souls in purgatory at each house they visit. Alternatively, you can hand out small religious tokens, such as saint cards or rosaries, along with candy at your door, reminding visitors of the holy season of Hallowtide.
Dressing up as ghouls, goblins, or witches during Halloween can be seen as a form of mocking the devil and evil, symbolizing that Christ has triumphed over sin, death, and Satan. By playfully dressing up as these symbols of darkness, Catholics can express that evil holds no true power over those who believe in Christ’s victory.
This approach reflects the idea that through His death and resurrection, Jesus conquered the forces of evil, and as Christians, we do not need to fear them. The costumes, then, become a reminder that we can laugh at and belittle the devil, who has already been defeated. However, it’s important to balance this playfulness with a reverent understanding of spiritual realities and not glorify evil but use the occasion as an opportunity to celebrate Christ’s power over darkness.
If you want to make your trick-or-treating costumes extra special, have children dress as their favorite saints. Afterward, gather to talk about the costumes and what each saint did to earn their place in heaven.