All Saint´s Day

Photo Sören Hallgren, ©Nordiska museet

Photo Sören Hallgren,
©Nordiska museet

This is the day in Sweden when we remember those of our friends and family who have passed away. It is a day of peaceful and calm remembrance preferably spent with those that are close to you, to grieve and reminisce our dear departed.

We visit our beloved and light candles at their graves to the point where the graveyards are often completely illuminated by all the candles.

I took my mother on a tour to the graves of our family members that are buried nearby yesterday, my father had a cold and prefered to stay at home. We lit candles in remembrance of those laying there and those that are buried on more remote places.

Ars got a candle too of course!

All Saints Day

Today is the All Saints day in Sweden. It is a movable holiday that occurs on the Saturday that comes between October 31st and November 6th. (When this holiday was created by the Swedish parliament in 1953 Saturdays were still work days.) The church celebrates another All Saints day on November 1st, but that day isn't a holiday.

This Saturday many of us visit our dear departed and light candles and lay out flowers on their graves or - if you are old, sick and tired as my parents - you light candles in front of pictures of the loved ones.

I visited my sister and grandparents graves today on behalf of the family, other than those few hours I have spent most of the day sleeping. I don´t know what has made me so tired, because I am otherwise in a good mood.

Tonight I am going to reenter SecondLife and light candles for my babe and think happy thoughts.

All Saint´s Day in Sweden

Today is "All Saint´s Day" in Sweden.

It is a day of remembrance, dignity and reflection. We have the custom of lighting candles and laying flowers or wreaths on the graves of our dear departed on this day.

We also take time to remember the one´s we have lost.

I remember the following people with special love today.

My darling Ars (Doug), who´s love will always keep me warm and safe,
My brother R, who died as an infant and whom I never knew but have always missed in my life,
My sister C, who´s love reminds me of the joy of living,
My maternal grandmother V, who´s love teaches me how to handle desperate times
and
My paternal grandfather F, who´s love teaches me to notice the shy and silent.

I don´t believe in a life hereafter, but if it should exist I hope my saints have all connected there!