On this day, nine months before the birth of Jesus on Christmas morning, we celebrate the incarnation of our savior, Jesus Christ. The Archangel Gabriel came to Mary of Nazareth and told her she was to bear the Son of God, Jesus Christ. This event is called the Feast of the Annunciation.

The Christian holiday of All Souls Day pays respect and remembers the souls of all friends and loved ones who have died and gone to heaven. It is a time to pray for the reception of our loved one’s souls into heaven. Upon death, Christians believe that souls of the dead are not cleansed of sin. Praying for the souls of loved ones helps to remove the stain of sin and allow them to enter the pearly gates of heaven. Odilo, an abbot of Cluny started All Souls Day in 998.

Often people will pray to their lost loved ones and even ask for special favors.

Did you know? All Souls Day is sometimes called the “Day of the Dead”. In Mexico, Dio De Los Muertos is celebrated on this day.

Today’s Quote: “We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass grows in silence; see the stars, the moon, and the sun, how they move in silence… We need silence to be able to touch souls.” – – Mother Teresa

The Christian holiday of All Saints Day honors and recognizes all of the saints of the Christian church, many of which were martyrs. The church sets this day aside to celebrate over 11,000 recognized saints. However, 1,600 of them are officially canonized. Historically, All Saints Day was known as Hallowmas. It was also called the “Feast of the Nameless Martyrs”.

 All Saints Day and All Souls Day was originally celebrated in May. The Catholic church changed the dates to November 1 and November 2, to downplay the Pagan holidays of Halloween (All Hollow’s Eve) and Dia De Los Muertos. Religious leaders felt these pagan holidays were too popular at the time to ban outright. But, by moving the Christian holidays to this period, the pagan holidays would slowly die away.

Ancient Romans called this holiday the “Feast of the Nameless Martyrs”.

Today’s Quote: “Saints are ordinary people who do what they do for the love of Jesus, say what they must say without fear, love their neighbor even when they are cursed by him, and live without regret over yesterday or fear of tomorrow.” – – Mother Angelica

Palm Sunday begins the Holy Week leading to Easter and the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It commemorates Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem where people put their palms down in front of his path.

On Palm Sunday, palms are distributed in church and blessed during the mass. People take them home and place them around religious pictures, statues, or other objects. They remain there for a year until the next Palm Sunday when they are replaced by newly blessed Palms.

When discarding old palms, remember it is a blessed religious object and should be burned or buried. Some gardeners bury it in their home garden to bless the coming year’s crop. 

Did you Know? The ashes you receive on Ash Wednesday are from the prior year’s palms.

Today’s Quote: “A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.” – – Theodore Roosevelt

On Good Friday, Jesus Christ died on the cross. He died for us. But he only died in human form. He then arose from the dead on Easter Sunday morning to show us that there is life after death in heaven. Good Friday, also called “Dark Friday”, is a day of solemn prayer and the final day of fasting for the long Lenten season.

Christ was nailed to the cross at noon. His death came at three o’clock in the afternoon. During this time, Christians should spend in prayer and silence.

Did You Know? Good Friday is also called “Dark Friday”.

Today’s Quote: “Since many of you do not belong to the Catholic Church and others are non-believers, from the bottom of my heart I give this silent blessing to every one of you, respecting the conscience of each one of you but knowing that each one of you is a child of God.” – – Pope Francis

Today is an important holiday in the Christian calendar. It is the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. On this August 15 holiday, we celebrate the assumption of Mary, mother of Jesus, into heaven. At the end of her life, Mary’s body and soul were assumed into heavenly glory. This is one of the oldest holy days of the Christian church.

Whether Mary had a physical death was not known. The New Testament has no writings about Mary’s death or assumption. Nor is there any reference in any other church writings.

The Feast of the Assumption is a holy day of obligation in the Christian church. 

Today’s Quote: “The Framers of our constitution meant we were to have freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.” – – Billie Graham

It’s time to party it up, and ….eat!! Fat Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday. It is also known as Mardi Gras Day or Shrove Day. It is a day when people eat all they want of everything and anything they want as the following day is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent and a long fasting period for Christians. In addition to fasting, Christians also give up something special that they enjoy. So, Fat Tuesday is a celebration and the opportunity to enjoy that favorite food or snack that you give up for the long Lenten season.

Nowhere on the planet is Fat Tuesday celebrated more than at Mardi Gras on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. The day is celebrated with festivities and parades and of course much food and drink. While in New Orleans, a big tradition is in wearing Mardi Gras beads and giving them to others. And tradition requires that if a guy gives a girl some beads, she has to do something for him…..this can be just loads of fun………

Did You Know? On Bourbon Street in New Orleans, store owners coat poles and columns with Vaseline to keep wild and rowdy revelers from climbing them (and perhaps falling).

In addition to being called Mardi Gras Day and Fat Tuesday, it is also called Fastnacht Day. Pennsylvania Dutch country, and other areas with large German populations, refer to it as Fastnacht Day. 

According to Jewish customs, women were considered “unclean” after the birth of a child. The unclean period lasted 40 days after the birth of a son, and 60 days after the birth of a daughter. During this period, they were not allowed into the temple to worship. At the end of this time, the woman was brought to the temple and “purified” in a ceremony. So, after the birth of Christ, the Virgin Mary was purified on Candlemas or the Feast of Purification. 

On Candlemas, candles used during the year are blessed. In Christian churches, candles represent Jesus Christ as the light, the truth and the way.

Today’s Quote: “When I admir the wonders of a sunset, or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in the worshp of the creator.” – –  Mahatma Gandhi

Additionally, people who like Ash Wednesday, will also like:

Fat Tuesday – As all Christians know, Fat Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday. Enjoy food and drink today, as tomorrow is the first day of Lent. As a result, good Catholics will fast from Ash Wednesday until Easter.