Thoughtfulness re Halloween

It’s my favorite time of the year, after Christmas; the biting air, the crunchy leaves beneath my feet, the pumpkins and the sense of harvest and closing, of bursting into autumn until you cannot be autumn anymore, and must slide into winter.

I’ve reposted, several times, my thoughts about Halloween, itself, and it’s always fun to look at the pictures, but I urge you to take a gander at Sally Thomas’ smart piece on The Drama of Hallowmas:

Halloween’s emphasis on darkness makes many Christians squeamish, but, to my mind, what my friend observed about the medieval feel of Halloween is more on the money. There is a drama to be played out, like a mystery play in three scenes, and it makes sense only if you observe all three days of Hallowmas—not only Halloween but All Saints’ and All Souls’ days as well. In this context, the very secularity and even the roots-level paganism of Halloween become crucial elements in a larger Christian story.

You’ll want to read it all. Thought-provoking.