“Everyone is a moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody.”
Mark Twain
All Saints: religious tradition that alternates with the pagan one of the well-known “trick or treat”. The so waited winter long weekend is already upon us: let’s discover it.
Martyrs are celebrated since long time: the firsts traces dated back to the IV century and always with daily frequency. While for the general commemoration, in the beginning it was the Sunday after the Pentecost, the it has been fixed at the 13th of May, when the Pantheon has officially turned in a church dedicated to the Virgin and the Martyrs. The final choice of the 1st of November is of the Pope Gregory III (731-741), as it was the anniversary of the consecration of a chapel of San Pietro with the relics “of the Holy Apostles, of all the Saints, Martyrs and Confessors and of all the rights became perfect who rest in peace of all the world”.
James Frazer (1854-1941), Scottish anthropologist, would like to remind us that the 1st of November is also Samhain Day, ancient pagan celebration which used to celebrate the Celtic new year. According to the belief, during this day, the dead used to come back to the places they used to go when they were in life. For this reason, it was always a very joyful celebration. This aspect of the feast brings us to our 2nd of November, with the celebration of the dead. In Mexico, everyone knows El Dia de Los Muertos, which lasts several days with bright colors, music, drinks and traditional food; all with the idea of exorcising the fear of death by laughing about it and celebrating life with beloved dead ones.
Our overseas cousins have transformed this pagan feast of the Samhain in Halloween: witches, ghosts, vampires, mummies, bats and pumpkins take possession of the streets, houses and pubs; children get dressed and run house-by-house reciting the famous “trick or treat”… and is better to have some sweets: otherwise the spiteful “little monsters” will take revenge, as predict! But, this tradition is surely inspired by the middle age era, when peasants begged door by door asking for donations in order to pass the winter. In return for it they used to offer a pray for the souls of their dead, bur for whom who did not offer anything, it would have a wish of bad fate.
In United States the costume is so felt that the houses are decorate, rather themed “dressed”: orange, black and violet are the basic colors, bats, spider webs and… the carved pumpkins!
At the AbanoRitz we have a nice program right for you:
- 31st of October: candle light dinner with pianist, little witches, little ghosts and… our “trick or treat”!
- 1st of November: the big reopening of our Midnight Vintage Club. DJ with 360° music on vinyl records… and roast chestnuts for everyone!
- 2nd of November: evening with voice and music in the hall!
Hurry up for the last available rooms:
