All Soul’s Day

All Soul’s Day

Today 2nd November is All Soul’s Day
In Ireland and in other places it signifies a day to remember family and friends whom we have loved and lost. (Maybe at the time of their death we didn’t even know we loved them.)
It’s believed that on this night, souls return to their homes and loved ones.
My husband Fran relates tales of his mother Roseanne, preparing for the visiting souls. As the night drew in – around ten O’clock, the fire would be ‘banked up’ with coal and slack; a table would be set with side plates, cups and a jug of water.
The belief was that souls must spend time in purgatory before entering heaven. So it was important that when they returned they should find the place warm and welcoming; a sign that they had not been forgotten.
In medieval times bells were rung to comfort the souls and candles were lit to break up their darkness.
Fran recalls, it was the only night in the year his Uncle Tommy came home from the pub before the rest of the family went to bed! He wasn’t taking any chances in meeting his dead relatives as they made their way from Strabane graveyard to his home in Townsend Street.
Thinking about All Souls Day made me reflect on the loved one lost from our family circle: including both Fran and my parents and aunts and uncles who were very much part of our childhood and early adulthood.
It’s said it takes a village to rear a child. Well, in our extended family connection it was a bit like that. I’m thinking especially of Harry, who was my father’s cousin.
He was our babysitter. Poor, long-suffering good, natured Harry, after looking after us lot – and there was a lot of us – he must surely be long past the stage of purgatory and he reaping his rewards in heaven.
I think of Madge, my hard working mother, and Roseanne, Fran’s mother. What a good mother-in-law she was. I hope they are both happy enjoying each other’s company over a wee cup of tea as they did many’s a summer Sunday after a walk up the Spout Road.

I like to think of the newborn infants and children who died young, as angels. What else could they be? Surely purgatory doesn’t apply to them on All Soul’s Day?
Now, night is drawing in. Should I be worried?
The souls are welcome to visit. I don’t think they’ll do me any harm, do you?
As a child I was taught when you die you go to either heaven or hell. And that, if you went to heaven you wouldn’t want out and if you went to hell you couldn’t get out.
So where does that leave me this All Soul’s Day 2014?
I think I’ll hedge my bets and pray this November for the souls of my dead relatives. Wherever they may be, may they rest in peaceful slumber until we meet again.