I grew up in a household that doesn’t celebrate Halloween. It’s not exactly a big childhood thing I missed, the idea of decorating your house and dressing up to look scary and buying buckets full of sweet candies for kids sounded too foreign to me. Though as an adult, and especially at work, I softened to this tradition, I would’ve been an obvious killjoy if I was the only one not in costume or pitching in for trick or treats.
On the occasion of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day, what I do recall is this recurring and constant talk of the sacred rule of “not forgetting.” Our elders, my mother back then included, will remind us to find time, no give time actually, to our loved ones who passed away. That means going to the cemetery, no matter the distance or the unforgiving crowd, and spend a day or two, even overnight, with all family members in attendance, to remember the dearly departed. Perhaps, the reason why the first two days of November are always a holiday off.
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