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| Sainte-Chapelle - Paris Photo by Jennie Lambert |
As
this blog will reveal, there is actually an association between “Halloween” and
genealogy. Without knowledge of one’s ancestors, their existence and our
acknowledgement of that existence, “Halloween” loses its original purpose.
In
2015 an estimated $ 7 Billion will be spent on “Halloween” activities in the
USA. That’s a lot of amusements, sweets and bizarre behavior. But, like so many
contemporary festive occasions, the origin and purpose of “Halloween”, has been
“hijacked” from the original intent. One would not know it in the USA, with
“Madison Avenue” and Hollywood’s versions of witches, zombies and a host of bizarre
activities, but Halloween is a deeply religious event as well, based on solid
genealogical connections.
“Halloween”,
as a modern notion, was born centuries ago out of a Catholic Church process for
recognizing and venerating Saints and the blessing of departed Souls. It is
derived from All Hallows Eve (October
31), followed
by All Saints Eve (November 1), and All Souls Day (November 2). Today, these
dates, and the religious observations associated with them are an integral part
of the religious convictions and practices of billions of people throughout the
world within a number of religious bodies and different cultures.
Since
ancient times (think many thousands of years), across all people worldwide, belief
systems and religious customs evolved to honor, respect, remember, and
sometimes dread, departed kin (ancestors). Most cultures around the world long
ago honed these events into deeply ingrained rituals. The mass migrations of
people during the past 2000-3000 years aided the blending of these customs. The
Celtic Druids of Ireland had a number of customs during Samhain (Sow-in) that look a bit like Halloween in present day
North America. The Ancient Aztecs (presently Mexico and Central America) had
elaborate rituals for celebrating the departed and communicating with them.
Following the Spanish conquest these early rituals were incorporated with the
Catholic religion and the celebration of Saints/Souls became Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Throughout
the World, wherever Christian Conquistadors and Colonials went they tried to
get locals to abandon their “pagan” rituals honoring the departed and adopt the
Christian Catholic/Anglican versions, with some Lutheran and other Christian
variations participating. With few exceptions they failed, and frequently adjusted
Christian religious holidays to coincide with those of local customs. For
example, a Catholic oriented Hispanic community in Texas, where we had our
B&B, turned the local cemetery into a colorful, flower strewn,
candle-light, all-night vigil during “Halloween” to celebrate and communicate
with the dearly departed on Dia de los
Muertos. Our local Lutheran Church, on this occasion has traditionally
encouraged members to bring photos/mementos of the departed to Church to
participate in special prayers and remembrances.
So,
“Halloween” may indeed be a time to visit cemeteries, but to decorate and
remember, not to desecrate and disrespect. After all, this “hallowed ground.”
OK,
fans of the Bush (Hines) – Lambert (Havens) progeny lines, you knew this blog
had to descend into some haunted aspect of genealogy. So here it is. We have
already established that witches hung out in Jennie’s New England family tree. (Check
it out: http://williamandjennie.blogspot.com/2013_10_01_archive.html ).
It
may now surprise you to learn that both of us have Saints in our genealogy repertoire
as well. Time to remember some of them.
Saint
Margaret
of Scotland (1045-1093), Jennie’s 29th great grandmother (ggm) and
William’s 24th ggm. In
1250 Margaret
was canonized by Pope Innocent
IV, and her remains were reinterred in a shrine at Dunfermline Abbey, Fife, Scotland.
She had an incredible life; her influence on
Scottish culture was legendary. She is a pivotal ancestor to our eastern
European, English and Scottish Ancestry.
Her son, King David I of
Scotland, was also canonized. More
about St. Margaret: http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=304 and at:
Another
Saint on the family tree is Louis lX
Capet (1214-1270), King of France, (1226-1270), He is
Jennie’s
25th great grandfather and William’s 20th ggf. The only French King officially
designated as a Catholic Saint, Louis IX has been characterized as an “exemplary
Christian prince . . . reinforced by religious zeal.” He built the Sainte-Chapelle ("Holy Chapel"), located in the center of Paris.
The Sainte Chapelle, was erected as a shrine
for the “Crown of Thorns”, and a
fragment of the “True Cross”, relics of the “Passion of Jesus,” which
Louis purchased 1239–41 from Emperor Baldwin II, then Latin Emperor of
Constantinople (another ancestor).
During our recent visit to Paris we toured Sainte Chapelle. It is indeed an
exquisite gothic masterpiece. The long flights of tightly wound stone stairs to
the upper Chapel just about did both of us in. Those people did not live in a
handicapped accessible world (still don’t). Pilgrimage was required, however,
because this was also the Chapel that French King Louis XlV received a funeral oration
in 1715 from Bishop Jean-Baptiste Massillon, alleged to be the greatest
theologian orator of his time, and for whom our hometown of Massillon, Ohio, is
named.
Isabel [Elizabeth] of France (1225-1270). Saint Isabel is a great, great … Aunt to both
of us, she being the daughter of Louis VIII of France and Blanche
of Castile (French/Spain). She was a younger sister of King Louis IX of
France (Saint Louis) and of Alfonso, Count of Poitiers (Fr.), and an older
sister of King Charles I of Sicily. In 1256, she founded the Poor Clare
Monastery of Longchamp, west of Paris. She is honored as a saint by the Franciscan Order.
That’s it for now.
William & Jennie
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