All Saints' Day Procession and All Souls' Day Hymn

All Saints’ Day Procession
Today, in the Middle Ages, we celebrate the feast of All Saints, better known as All Saints’ Day. On this day, we commemorate all the saints who have served as role models in Christian society. They dwell in heaven and can intercede for us here on earth with God to help us in difficult times.

Today we’ll reenact this in a procession. Everyone is welcome to join. Immerse yourself in the uncertain world of the medieval person. Illness, death, and disasters lurk around every corner. We’ll put on medieval costumes over our regular clothes, carry flags and guild banners, and walk through the streets of Gravendam while singing. We’ll call upon all the saints in heaven—and God as well—to help us through our uncertainty and fear. By walking and praying together, we’ll feel a little stronger in our lives.

The start time is listed on the daily program.

For more information about the Minderbroeders Choir, visit www.minderbroederskoor.nl

All Souls' Day Hymns
Time: 12:00 p.m., 2:15 p.m., and 3:00 p.m.

Today we also celebrate All Souls’ Day (which actually falls on November 2). On this day, we remember all those who have passed away in the past year and before. The Brothers will sing the Gregorian requiem chants associated with this feast in the monastery. You are cordially invited to come and listen to this ancient sacred music.

Background Information
Both Christian holidays bear some resemblance to a pre-Christian Celtic festival also known as Hallow-e’en, or All Hallows’ Eve, or All Saints’ Eve. In the Celtic calendar, October 31 was New Year’s Eve and November 1 was New Year’s Day. It marked the height of autumn. The harvest had been brought in, and the seeds for the following year had been gathered. Winter could now begin.

The Celts also believed that on this day, the spirits of those who had died in the past year would return to take possession of a living body. They tried to appease these spirits by placing food outside their doors. And they tried to ward them off by wearing masks.

Christianity has adopted elements of this day, spread over two days: November 1 is known as All Saints’ Day. It commemorates the “harvest” of all those who led such exemplary Christian lives that they were declared saints by the people around them. A day later, on All Souls’ Day (November 2), all those who have died in the past year and before are commemorated. By praying for the repose of their souls, people hope to free them from their punishment in purgatory.

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