Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Addendum: A Prayer for a Soul Cake!

I just wanted to add briefly to Brenna's discourse on Halloween. I remember learning in religious ed. classes years ago that the tradition of Trick or Treating comes from a practice more intimately related to the Holy Days that follow Halloween. Children would go around the neighborhood asking for soul cakes, which had little slips of paper on them with a deceased family member's name. The children chanted, "a soul cake, a soul cake, a prayer for a soul cake," meaning that in return for the yummy cake, they would pray for the deceased family member.

If you have any other fun Halloween anecdotes about the origins of our traditions (the legend of Jack O'Lantern is a really fun tale!) or anything else about the holiday, feel free to comment away!!! Happy Halloween, and All Saints' Day!

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