More Than Monsters and Candy: October's Ancestor Honoring Traditions

October is a time when the veil between worlds is thin, and many cultures around the globe take this opportunity to honor their ancestors. While Halloween might be the most well-known October celebration in the United States, it's just one of many traditions that focus on remembering and connecting with those who came before us. Let's explore some of the ways that different cultures observe this auspicious time of year.

The ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, marks the end of harvest and the beginning of the winter season.

Samhain: The Celtic Roots of Halloween While modern American Halloween is dominated by costumes, candy, and horror movie marathons, the holiday has its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, which the Celts associated with death. They believed that on Samhain, the boundary between the living and the dead became blurred, and spirits of the ancestors returned to the world of the living. To honor these visiting spirits, the Celts would leave food and drink offerings, and light bonfires to ward off any malevolent entities. Today, many modern Pagans and witches continue to observe Samhain as a time to connect with their ancestors and reflect on the cycle of life and death. Rituals might include creating an ancestor altar, holding a dumb supper (a meal eaten in silence), or performing a ritual to honor the beloved dead.

Bread of the dead, painted skulls and marigold flowers are the markers of the Celebration of Mexico's Day of the Dead.

Día de los Muertos: A Vibrant Celebration of Life and Death

In Mexico and other parts of Latin America, the Days of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) are celebrated on November 1st and 2nd, though the festivities may begin as early as October 28th. This holiday is a time for families to welcome back the souls of their deceased loved ones, and is marked by colorful altars adorned with marigolds, photographs, favorite foods and drinks of the ancestors, and intricate sugar skulls. Families gather at the cemetery for picnics and to clean and decorate the graves of their ancestors, sharing stories and memories of those who have passed on. While the theme of death might seem somber, Día de los Muertos is a vibrant and joyful celebration of life, love, and the enduring bonds between generations.

During Pitru Paksha, Hindus honor their ancestors, mainly by offering them food.

Pitru Paksha: A Fortnight of Ancestors in Hindu Tradition In the Hindu tradition, the fortnight of Pitru Paksha, which usually falls in September or early October, is a time dedicated to honoring one's ancestors. During this period, offerings of food and water are made to the ancestors through rituals called tarpan and shraddha. It's believed that the ancestors reside in a realm called Pitru Loka, and during Pitru Paksha, they return to the world of the living. By making offerings and performing rituals, devotees can help their ancestors achieve a more favorable rebirth or liberation from the cycle of reincarnation. Pitru Paksha is also a time for reflection on one's duties to family and community, and for seeking the blessings of the ancestors for guidance and protection.

During the Ching Ming Festival, Caozi Kueh is being preparded as a lovingly offering to ancestors.

Ching Ming: A Time for Tomb Sweeping The Ching Ming Festival, also known as Qingming or Pure Brightness Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday that falls in early April, but the spirit of honoring ancestors is relevant in October as well. During Ching Ming, families visit the tombs of their ancestors to clean the gravesites, remove any weeds or debris, and make offerings of incense, food, and drink. This tradition is rooted in the Confucian principle of filial piety, or the duty to care for and honor one's parents and ancestors. By tending to their ancestors' graves and making offerings, families demonstrate their respect and gratitude for the sacrifices of those who came before them.

Honoring Ancestors in Our Daily Lives While these special holidays and festivals provide a dedicated time for ancestor honoring, we can cultivate a deeper connection with our ancestors in our daily lives as well. This might involve creating a home altar with photos and mementos of loved ones who have passed on, sharing stories and memories of our ancestors with our children, or simply taking a moment each day to silently acknowledge and thank our ancestors for their gifts. By recognizing the ways that our ancestors continue to live on in us - through our genes, traditions, values, and stories - we can deepen our sense of belonging and meaning.