In Sweden Halloween is a commercial day that sometimes is mixed up with the holiday All saints day. That is causing a debate every year.
Halloween in Sweden is probably a pitiful imitation of the U S version. It’s pumpkins, ghosts, skeletons, candybegging and all other things the commensalism can come up with to make people spend money on a one day phenomenon that in some cases go on for more than a week.
All saints holiday is about remembering and honoring our loved ones who have passed away. Church reading the names of all who past away during the year and sings hymns. We light candles on the graveyards and in my town there was candles along the little citycreek too. Beautiful in the dark evening.
What’s your thoughts about all saints holiday and the Halloween day? Do they mix well or is it one of them that needs to get room for the other?
Can they both exist and can we all choose which way we want to go? Both ways or one of them?
Here’s some old paintings and drawings from both events.
Annas Art - FärgaregårdsAnna 
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Here in the UK we have All Saints Day on the 1st and All Souls Day on the 2nd. Close to these we then have Remembrance Sunday. My pagan friends think about their ancestors on Halloween/Samhain, so that adds to the general feeling of remembrance and reflection this time of the seasonal year is perfect for. The trick or treating aspect is a more modern addition that is good for the kids to enjoy, I think they’ll grow into the other side of it as they get older.
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I think you’re right. We had a peaceful all saints day here. Lots of people and candles on the graveyards. The air was filled with gratitude and memories.
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