The Patron Saint of Banking
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On this, All Saints Day, a few questions. Is it a coincidence that Halloween is followed by All Saints Day? What does punk rock have to do with it? And who, pray tell, is the patron saint of banking?
The origin of Halloween lies with the pagan festival Samhain, which was celebrated by the Celts in Ireland and Great Britain, marking the end of the harvest. The tradition made its way to America in the 19th century, where it's been commercialised to no end. And after The Misfits broke up, Glen Danzig adopted the name, Samhain, for his next band.
Samhain was thought to be one of the 'liminal' times of year when the boundary between living and dead overlapped, and masks and costumes were often used in an attempt to placate the spirits who broke through to do damange (especially to the crops).
The modern name Halloween comes from All-hallow-even, meaning the evening before All Hallows Day, which is now known as All Saints Day.
So is it a coincidence that All Saints Day, which most definitely does not have pagan origins, is the very next day?
As Wikipedia has told us, no. All Saints Day was originally celebrated on the 13th of May, but was moved to the 1st of November by Pope Gregory IV in the 835. Back in those days, the day began at sunset, so for a time, Halloween and All Saints Day were celebrated at the same time. Was the church trying to tell us something?
So let us, on this day of All Saints, celebrate St Matthew, the patron saint banking, accounting, book keepers, financial officers.
Matthew also has the honour of being one of the 12 apostles and four evangelists, making him very important indeed.
Only natural he should be watching over you lot then!
Samhain was thought to be one of the 'liminal' times of year when the boundary between living and dead overlapped, and masks and costumes were often used in an attempt to placate the spirits who broke through to do damange (especially to the crops).
The modern name Halloween comes from All-hallow-even, meaning the evening before All Hallows Day, which is now known as All Saints Day.
So is it a coincidence that All Saints Day, which most definitely does not have pagan origins, is the very next day?
As Wikipedia has told us, no. All Saints Day was originally celebrated on the 13th of May, but was moved to the 1st of November by Pope Gregory IV in the 835. Back in those days, the day began at sunset, so for a time, Halloween and All Saints Day were celebrated at the same time. Was the church trying to tell us something?
So let us, on this day of All Saints, celebrate St Matthew, the patron saint banking, accounting, book keepers, financial officers.
Matthew also has the honour of being one of the 12 apostles and four evangelists, making him very important indeed.
Only natural he should be watching over you lot then!
