Shining Brightly
Lithuanian graveyards are bustling at this time of year, not with the dead (as some movies might suggest), but with the living. In every town, in every village, people gather in graveyards to tidy graves in preparation for All Souls’ Day (Vėlinės).
Leaves are cleared from graves and their surrounds and flowers are planted or placed in pots on the graves. Candles are then added by family and friends, starting on Halloween and continuing to November 2nd. The candles are lit all day, but it is at the setting of the sun that the scene becomes magical, when they glow gloriously in the cold autumn air. It’s a night to remember.
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Wow, it looks magical. I wish we had such traditions here in the US.
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These photos are absolutely gorgeous! In my village in Italia, they celebrate ‘tutti Santi’ all Saints Day Nov 1st with a huge festa called ‘ Fucacoste e Cocce Priatorje’. I hope to attend one day, but I tend to go in the summer or spring. I wrote a blog post about it a few years ago http://www.unpodipepe.ca/2014/11/01/fucacoste-e-cocce-priatorje/ There is also a link to a video with the best hashtag #quinonehalloween. Ciao, Cristina
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Looks fascinating, Cristina. 100 bonfires in one town sounds like quite a spectacle!
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I’m hoping to go one of these Novembers!
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Samhain is the start of the darker half of the year, end of harvests. No wonder I need more sleep. Liz
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I kinda like this half, Liz. I have a bit more time for long walks with the dog and more creative pastimes. Come spring, though, I’ll be looking forward to longer days and a bit of sunshine! x
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I love the idea of the lit candles and left at night…
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It’s gorgeous, Franck. Not sure if they do it in France, but one year we happened to be driving home (to Ireland) through Poland at this time of year and the amount of candles was staggering. Such a lovely way to remember.
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Yes, we have “la Toussaint” in France or “All Saints” but nothing like that. In Brittany though, this time of year was very special, giving birth to a lot of legends. The benedictions of the graves in Ireland is quite a site too I must say!
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What a lovely tradition. And what a perfect take on the theme. Here its all Halloween of course which I am rather dreading …
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I can imagine. I’m quite glad that the trick-or-treating aspect of Halloween still hasn’t really caught on here. I think we only got one knock to the door last year. It has become so commercial in western countries – not the lovely tradition of making costumes and jack-o-lanterns from turnips that it was when I was a kid. (I sound like a right ole granny!)
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My bit of FRance is the same but I fear not for much longer. Here I don’t think I will ever be ready for the onslaught of commercial stuff which in the end is tantamount to hijacking childhood. Hello Granny – my name’s Granny!!!!
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