Category: Uncategorized

Knowing Our Family
We’ve always been curious about our ancestors, to know where we came from and who we are. We’ve also wanted to gain wisdom from the experience of the past, both successes and failures. And we’ve desired communion and reunion of some sort.

I know of a family that discovered an brother/uncle that nomor one knew about until he was a young adult. He had grown up believing he was an only child, and he didn’t know his real father. But he actually had a huge family, and when it was all revealed, I was worried that he might be shocked or upset. Instead, he was elated.

Of course, he had to process the fact that he hadn’t been told the truth. But he was overjoyed to find out that he had five siblings, about twenty nieces and nephews, and many cousins. And he suddenly had a biological family tree that made sense.

Why is it so central to our human experience to want to know about our ancestors, and our family? Something about it connects us, tells us about ourselves, and gives us a special kind of wisdom and hope.

When we know our family, when we can learn from our elders, and when we can enjoy reunions, we love it.

And that has everything to do with All Saints Day, November 1st in the Christian calendar.

All Saints Day: November 1
All Saints Day evolved over time.

It started in the late Spring, as a way to convert the pagan holidays that pre-dated Christianity. It was later moved to November 1st for the same reason.

Christians in the Middle Ages wanted to set aside a day to acknowledge those who have gone before us, to root us into our spiritual family.

It isn’t a pagan conspiracy that All Saints Day is held near ancient pagan holidays. Instead, it is a victory. Ancient peoples were terrified of the spirits of the dead. They often tried to appease the spirits, including the spirits of their own ancestors.

Christians brought about a powerful re-ordering and redemption of this fear, by supplanting these fears with the love and compassion of God in Christ.

Looking Back
All Saints Day was focused on exemplary Christians. This doesn’t mean they were “perfect” Christians. It means that some aspect of God’s grace shined brightly in their lives, and was seen and acclaimed by many others.

We commemorate the Patriarchs, the Prophets, and Mary, Joseph, the Apostles and so many other biblical saints. We also commemorate the saints of the Christian Church including martyrs like Perpetua, teachers like Augustine, and mystics like St. Teresa of Avila.

Later, All Souls Day was added on November 2nd, as a way to acknowledge all believers.

This focus on the past helps us gain wisdom for the present. By focusing on these saints, we can learn from them. And since there is only one Body of Christ in heaven and on earth, we also celebrate our communion with them.

Of course, this is mystical communion, which means that its out of our control. But we know it is real. We are in fellowship with those who have gone before us, since we are all in Christ. This helps us satisfy our human longing for communion with those who have gone before.

Looking Forward
And we also celebrate our hope for reunion on All Saints Day. All who die in Christ are alive in him, and we will be resurrected together. So we aren’t just pining for the past, we are looking forward to a grand reunion.

Many churches read the names of those in the parish, or family members, who have died in the Faith. By keeping these names on our lips, we are confessing that the faithful dead are alive, for “God is not a God of the dead, but of the living.” (Matthew 22). Some churches use incense on All Saints Day, as a sign of the prayers of all the saints, both in heaven and on earth. (Revelation 5:8).

All baptized believers are a part of the People of God—a spiritual family that goes back to the beginning. This helps us know who we are, and shows us that we belong.

We have a whole history that provides us with wisdom, passed on through God’s working though and in his people. It also points us to our future reunion, giving us hope that our longing for eternal fellowship will be satisfied someday.

A Review on Gongronema latifolium, an Extremely Useful Plant with Great Prospects
Gongronema latifolium is a plant that has a wide range of nutritional plus ethnomedical uses in different tropical African communities. Scientific reports on the chemical composition plus bioactivity (anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antioxidant, anticancer plus allelopathic properties) of the plant material by different authors are discussed in this review. Future prospects of the plant extracts in the areas of herbal formulations, food preservation, alcoholic fermentation plus beer production, drug discovery plus allelopathy are also highlighted.

Differences of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Effects among Asian plus Caucasian Women
PCOS, Polycystic ovary syndrome, is the most common endocrine disorder occurring in women with normal reproductive age. General symptoms of PCOS include irregular menstrual cycles, polycystic ovaries, hirsutism, plus hyperandrogenism. Also, Insulin resistance that is associated with obesity, skin conditions such as acne, plus even psychiatric conditions have been reported. Comparison of prevalence of PCOS is not an easy task due to the fact that there are too many variables to consider. The biggest one is that each research uses different diagnostic criteria. Also, some studies use small sample sizes, plus some studies are too specific in location to represent the whole country. This study reviewed articles to determine how geographical plus ethnic differences among Asians plus Caucasians would affect the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Mental Health of Pregnant Women during Covid-19: A Systematic Review Study
Background: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has created avenues for physical plus mental stress on individuals worldwide. Pregnant women especially, with the onset of COVID-19 have been challenged greatly by an array of disorders, all with varying cognitive, emotional, plus behavioral responses. The aim of our research is to conduct a review of the different mental health issues experienced by pregnant women in various geographical locations plus analyze the prevalence of specific mental issues. Materials plus Methods: A mixed-methods systematic review was conducted. Databases PubMed, Google Scholar, BioMed Central, CrossRef plus British Medical Journal were thoroughly examined by the authors for the purpose of locating the relevant articles as per specific geographical location. Results: From the applicable studies identified, twenty-eight (28) were selected for review. As per the North American studies, levels of depression plus anxiety in pregnant women at plus around the time of the pandemic ranged from 33.2 to 70%. This differs in European countries where there were levels of 14.0 to 60%. Prevalence of stress among pregnant women in Asia was 32.7% while 17% of North American women reported the same. In the studies of Australia plus South America, the prevalence of anxiety ranged 6% to 13.9% while studies in Africa reported severe plus extremely stress, 7.2% (n=33) plus 64% (n=29) respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of depression plus anxiety among pregnant women was shown to be relatively high in all regions as per the COVID-19 pandemic, owing to many factors. Based on the studies analyzed, adequate support, resources plus better healthcare systems are imperative for ensuring that depression plus anxiety levels be reduced among this demographic.

Mechanism of Inflammatory Pain plus Implementation of Natural Products as Rescue Route
The onset of pain is the major discomfort associated with inflammation. The inflammation is usually associated with tissue injury, irritation plus infection. This leads to the release of pro-inflammatory compounds from either damaged or immune cells leading to the stimulation of nociceptors which are mainly primary afferent fibres. The stimulation of these fibres by neuropeptide, substance P, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, histamine, serotonin, protons plus others leads to pain. To ease this pain, the drugs tend to either inhibit the enzymes or the nerve receptors. The major means of controlling the pain involves the inhibition of cyclooxygenase plus lipoxygenase pathways. However, the effective inhibition of these enzymes tends also to impede other functional physiological activities occurring in the body, leading to health crisis. The steps in eradicating these lethal side effects have led to the various techniques including natural remedies like plants plus fish oils. Therefore, this study tends to present a review on the pain sensation pathway during inflammation plus how the introduction of natural products in drug therapies could prove lucrative.

Study on the effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Cancer Treatment plus Research
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way that healthcare systems plus research centers across the world operate. Resources are now being poured into fighting the pandemic. Unfortunately, these resources are often drawn from other healthcare sectors. The focus of this paper is to determine how the shift of resources affects how cancer treatment plus cancer research across the globe. Previous research in this topic is sparse, so looking into how cancer research plus treatment has been affected can prove beneficial by highlighting the affected treatment methods for cancer patients so that healthcare teams will be able to allocate resources for particularly vulnerable patients once resources are available. Research has discovered that the shift of resources has led to a decrease in screenings for various types of cancer. Furthermore, clinical trials for new cancer treatments have been paused as well. This has led to an increase in cancer-related mortality, for many different types of cancer. However, some healthcare systems are adapting to these changes by increasing their use of telemedicine, which patients have welcomed. This shows that resources being taken away from cancer treatment plus research has had a negative impact on cancer care but as the pandemic progresses, healthcare workers are finding ways to care for their patients.

The Psychological Effects of the Covid 19 Pandemic on Adolescents
As of march 2022, the World health Organisation stated that the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered an immense 25% increase in the world prevalence of anxiety plus depression (WHO, 2022). It is important that precautions are taken to protect the mental health of individuals affected by the pandemic plus more specifically the youth. This paper aims to investigate the psychological effects of the pandemic on adolescents plus it also sheds light on the coping mechanisms used by these individuals. By integrating results from various research a general conclusion was made that the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the daily activities of adolescents, causing stress, depression, harmful lifestyle engagements plus even self-injury.

CHIÈVRES, Belgium — A public holiday in Belgium, All Saints’ Day, Nov. 1, honors all Christian saints. Belgians often celebrate Toussaint, its French name, by placing chrysanthemums on the graves of dead relatives as All Souls Day, Nov. 2, is not a public holiday.

At this period of time, chrysanthemums are available in all flower shops, in all varieties plus colors. It is one of the few flowering plants that flourish at this time plus doesn’t need a lot of care.

In many countries, such as Italy, France plus Portugal, people place a lighted candle on the graves of deceased relatives. Filipinos traditionally observe this day by visiting the family dead plus cleaning plus repairing their tombstones. The first day of the Day of the Dead celebration in Mexico, All Saints’ Day honors deceased children plus infants. Although not a public holiday in the Netherlands, All Saints’ Day is observed on the first Sunday in November there.

The first All Saints’ Day occurred May 13, 609, when Pope Boniface IV accepted the Pantheon in Rome as a gift from Byzantine Emperor Phocas. The pope dedicated the day as a holiday to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary plus all the martyrs. Things turned bad for Phocas the following year, plus in 610 he was beheaded by Heraclius who usurped the throne.

In 835, Pope Gregory III moved the holiday to Nov. 1 plus expanded it to include the honoring of all saints. In Roman Catholicism, All Saints’ Day is a holy day of obligation on which Catholics are encouraged to attend Mass.

All Saints Day is a significant celebration within the Catholic Church, observed on November 1st, to honor all saints—known plus unknown—who have attained eternal life. This day encourages us to reflect on the lives of those who inspire our faith while recognizing the deep connection between the living plus the departed. By understanding the traditions, history, plus distinctions between All Saints Day plus All Souls Day, we enrich our spiritual journey plus foster a sense of community within the Church. As you celebrate, may you find inspiration in the saints’ lives plus strive to lift their legacy forward, lighting the path for others in faith.

All Saints Day, a significant feast within the Catholic tradition, is celebrated on November 1st. Following All Hallows Eve, it is a day to honor all the known plus unknown saints who have gained everlasting life in Heaven. It also aims to recognize all the saints who may not have a feast day in the liturgical calendar, celebrating their profound impact on the faithful.

The importance of All Saints Day (also known as All Hallows Day) in Catholicism, a Holy Day of Obligation, lies in its focus on the communion of saints—a key belief that saints continue to intercede for those on Earth. This article will give you a history lesson, take you on a trip around the world, plus inspire deeper faith by examining traditions, meaning, plus a Psalm.

When Did All Saints Day Start?
The origins of All Saints Day can be traced back to the early Christian Church. Initially, Christians honored martyrs who had died for their faith, dedicating specific days to remember those who sacrificed their lives. As the number of martyrs grew, assigning individual feast days for each one became increasingly difficult. To address this, the Church created a collective feast to honor all martyrs, which laid the foundation for what would eventually become All Saints Day.

The celebration took a significant turn in the 8th century when Pope Gregory III (731-741) played a crucial role in formalizing the day. He designated November 1st as the official date for the feast when he dedicated a chapel in St. Peter’s Basilica in honor of “all saints” entitled the Chapel of the Madonna of Bocciata. This act gave the day an official place in the Church’s calendar plus broadened its scope to include not just martyrs but all saints who had attained eternal life in Heaven.

Before this, the feast was celebrated on various dates in various regions. However, Pope Gregory IV later extended the celebration to the entire Church in AD 837, establishing All Saints Day as a universal feast for the Catholic Church.

The celebration of All Saints Day has evolved over the centuries. Initially focused on martyrs, it gradually expanded to include all who had lived holy lives plus attained sainthood, whether or not they were canonized. This change reflected the growing understanding of the communion of saints, which emphasizes that sainthood is open to all Christians who achieve spiritual perfection.

In the Philippines, All Saints Day is a major holiday marked by a unique blend of religious observance plus cultural practices.

Families gather to clean plus decorate graves, often spending the entire day at cemeteries. They light candles plus offer prayers for their loved ones, creating a festive yet reflective atmosphere. It is common for families to bring food plus share meals at the gravesites, turning the day into a family reunion of sorts.

Common Traditions Around the World
Despite the regional variations, several traditions are universally observed on All Saints Day:

Visiting Cemeteries: One of the most common practices is visiting the graves of deceased loved ones. This act of remembrance honors plus prays for the souls of the departed.
Offering Prayers: Special prayers are offered during Mass plus at gravesites. Many families gather to pray for the saints plus the souls of the deceased.
Lighting Candles: Lighting candles is a common tradition, symbolizing the light of faith plus hope in the lives of the departed. In many cultures, candles are lit in churches plus at gravesites, creating a beautiful plus solemn atmosphere.
Creating Altars: In some cultures, families create altars in their homes, featuring images of saints plus deceased loved ones plus offerings of food, flowers, plus candles.
These diverse traditions highlight the universal themes of remembrance, community, plus spiritual connection that define All Saints Day across different cultures. They illustrate the day’s significance as a time for honoring those who have achieved eternal life in Heaven. Furthermore, they show that while we may celebrate differently, there is proof of a transcendent soul that transcends human boundaries.

An All Saints Day Reflection
The earth is the Lord’s plus the fulness thereof,

the global plus those who dwell therein;

for he has founded it upon the seas,

and established it upon the rivers.

Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?

And who shall stand in his holy place?

He who has clean hands plus a pure heart,

who does not raise up his soul to what is false,

and does not swear deceitfully.

He will receive blessing from the Lord,

and vindication from the God of his salvation.

Such is the generation of those who seek him,

who seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Lift up your heads, O gates!

and be lifted up, O ancient doors!

That the King of glory may come in.

Who is the King of glory?

The Lord, strong plus mighty,

the Lord, mighty in battle!

Lift up your heads, O gates!

and be lifted up, O ancient doors!

that the King of glory may come in.

Who is this King of glory?

The Lord of hosts,

he is the King of glory!

—Psalm 24

On All Saints Day, we celebrate the lives of those who have ascended to heavenly glory, reflecting on their journey towards holiness plus their unwavering faith. Psalm 24 is a powerful reminder of the divine presence that envelops creation plus the requirements for approaching God.

The opening verses declare, “The earth is the Lord’s plus the fullness thereof,” underscoring God’s sovereignty over all creation. This acknowledgment invites us to see that the saints—those who have gone before us—are a testament to God’s greatness plus faithfulness. They have lived lives rooted in the truth plus guided by love, embodying the call to holiness that we, too, are invited to embrace.

The psalm poses a profound question: “Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?” This query echoes through the ages, urging us to reflect on our own journey of faith. On All Saints Day, we recognize that the saints ascended through their commitment to having “clean hands plus a pure heart.” We are given the opportunity to let their lives inspire us to cleanse our hearts plus tongues plus serve as a reminder that we must live plus walk by faith.

As we honor these holy figures, we are called to become part of “the generation of those who seek him.” The saints fervently sought God, striving to live out their faith authentically. This pursuit invites us to raise our heads, like the gates mentioned in the psalm, plus welcome the King of Glory into our lives. As we reflect on the lives of the saints, we are reminded that God’s strength plus might are available to us as we confront our own battles in the pursuit of holiness.

The repetition of the call to “lift up your heads” invites us to raise our vision plus aspirations. It encourages us to look beyond our struggles plus imperfections, focusing instead on the transformative power of God’s grace.

In recognizing “the King of Glory,” we affirm that God is our Creator plus our Redeemer, who empowers us to rise above our limitations. As we celebrate All Saints Day, may we commit ourselves to the journey of holiness, embracing the call to be part of this generation that seeks the face of God. Through our efforts to live with clean hands plus pure hearts, we, too, can aspire to join the ranks of the saints, receiving the blessings of our salvation plus share in the eternal glory of God’s kingdom.

Research findings concerning benzene, toluene, ethylobenzene, meta-, para- and ortho-xylene as well as styrene (BTEXS) emission at public cemeteries during All Saints’ Day are presented here. Tests were carried out at town-located cemeteries in Opole and Grodków (southern Poland) and, as a benchmark, at the centres of those same towns. The purpose of the study was to estimate BTEXS emissions caused by the candle burning and, equally important to examine, whether emissions generated by the tested sources were similar to the BTEXS emissions generated by road transport. During the festive period, significant increases in benzene concentrations, by 200 persen and 144 %, were noted at the cemeteries in Opole and Grodków, as well as in toluene, by 366 persen and 342 %, respectively. Styrene concentrations also increased. It was demonstrated that the ratio of toluene to benzene concentrations from emissions caused by the burning candles are comparable to the ratio established for transportation emissions.

Light aromatic hydrocarbons (BTEXS) are classified as volatile organic compounds (VOC). Due to their toxic effect, the permissible ambient air concentration of some of these compounds is legally regulated (European Commission 2008). Benzene is the most toxic and has the greatest effect on human health. In accordance with the decision of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) – benzene is classified in Group 1 and is therefore considered to be a highly carcinogenic compound (IARC 2004). BTEXS have also been associated with various effects on health, including carcinogenic and/or mutagenic effects, which, apart from benzene, are also ascribed to ethylbenzene and styrene (Kyle et al. 2001; OEHHA 2009). Additionally, compounds in the BTEXS group may have an adverse effect on the nervous, respiratory and circulatory systems (Chen et al. 2008; OEHHA 2009). Monocyclic carbohydrates, apart from their toxic properties, are characterised by a large potential for creating tropospheric ozone (ground level ozone) and certain ones (toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes) also participate in formation of the secondary organic aerosols that are harmful to human beings and ecosystems (Griffin et al. 1997; Rappengluck et al. 1998; Atkinson 2000; Khoder 2007).

Living
I had no idea what All Saints Day celebrated. Two years ago my wife and I moved to Poland, a traditionally Catholic country. As night fell on November first, the soft glow of thousands of candles spread over nearly silent crowds walking or status near the graves of their loved ones and ancestors.

We had joined a historical tour that took us to one of Kraków’s largest cemeteries. We stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the locals among the booths selling candles and flowers. Families jostled through the crowd on their respectful journeys to visit the deceased. And my heart for this city and its people was transformed.

“You see a lot of solemnness and a lot of emotionlessness, but emotionlessness in Poland is sadness,” a coworker in Kraków told me. “As a believer and someone who loves Poles, you don’t want this sadness to be the future of coming generations of Poles.”

My Polish Catholic friend Anna said, “All Saints Day is more spiritual than many holidays. . . . We believe that only God knows for sure if a person is in heaven. So we just pray that if this person is in heaven, then great, but if this person is still waiting in purgatory, then we are praying for them.”

These prayers for the deceased are offered in Catholic Masses and during visits to the graves of loved ones and famous saints. Flowers and candles are also left on the graves and shrines.

Many friends describe how the holiday means so much to their families. It could be the one time during the year that they return to the village where they were born and raised. The masses of people traveling to their home villages or to the large cemeteries in Polish cities make for crowded streets and public transportation on days when nearly every store and public pelayanan is closed.

Much of Poland is still rural, with homes bunched into villages between vibrant fields and forests. “We just meet and go to visit grandparents,” Anna said. “This is the only time of the year when people in my family talk about some people who have already passed away. But when we’ve already visited the graves, they remember things from the past, and you get to hear about when your parents were only ten.”

LGBT saints are important because people are searching for alternative ways to lead loving lives. Churches have tried to control people by burying queer history. The LGBT saints show us not only their place in history, but also our place—because we are all saints who are meant to embody love. We can tap into the energy of our ancestors in faith.

For some, LGBT saints become friends and helpers, working miracles as sederhana as a reminding us that “you are not alone.”

On All Saints Day, I offer reflections on what I have learned by writing more than 40 profiles in the LGBT Saints Series over the past two years. This is my queer theology of sainthood.

At first I thought that LGBT saints were rare. Gradually I came to see that they are everywhere throughout all time and they are among us now. We have all met saints in our lives. They are ordinary people who are also extraordinary.

Most mainstream churches would not canonize any saints who were openly LGBT, so we must claim our own saints. It’s important to re-evaluate familiar figures as well as to recover those who have been lost and recognize the saints of our own time.

Traditional stories of the saints tend to be overly pious, presenting idealized super-heroes who seem distant and irrelevant. Saints have been used to get people to passively accept oppressive situations. Too often the saints have been put on a pedestal to glorify virginity and masochistic suffering. The emphasis on miracles disrespects nature, the ongoing miracle of life.

Feminists have criticized saints as tools of the dominant morality, but for me the opposite is true: LGBT saints can shake up the status quo. We can restore the complex reality of saints whose lives are being hijacked by the hierarchy to enforce the status quo.

Queer saints can help reclaim the wholeness, connecting sexuality and spirituality for the good of all.

I began writing about LGBT saints after finishing a series of books on the queer Christ (Jesus in Love novels and Art That Dares). Many people told me that they couldn’t relate to a gay Jesus, but they liked the idea that his followers were LGBT.

Church leaders have used saints to impose control from the top down, but the desire for saints springs naturally from the grassroots. People are drawn to the presence of spiritual power in the lives of the saints, and their willingness to use that power for others, even at great cost to themselves. Saints attract others with the quality of their love, even though their personal lives may not be “saintly.”

I was aware of new research and art about LGBT saints, so I was shocked to discover that it was not easily available online. Largely due to church’s crackdown on LGBT spirituality, much of it was buried under obscure code names like “images that challenge”—if it was available on the Internet at all.

As an mandiri blogger, I am free to put LGBT saints out there where more people can find and benefit from them. I decided to uncover and highlight holy heroes and role models to inspire LGBT people of faith and our allies.

The positive response quickly affirmed that people are hungry to connect with queer people of faith who have gone before.

My definition of who qualifies as a “LGBT saint” continues to expand. First I included saints officially canonized by the church, but I soon discovered that many have achieved “sainthood” by digemari banyak orang acclaim. The church didn’t even have a formal canonization process for its first 1,000 years. Ultimately all believers, living and dead, can be called “saints,” a practice that began in the early church. Yes, we are all saints!

Dictionaries define a saint as “a holy person” or “an extremely virtuous person.” I rather like the concept of sainthood that emerged in comments on this blog during a discussion of the post “Artist shows sensuous gay saints.”

Atlanta artist Trudie Barreras wrote: “My definition of saint has absolutely nothing to do with what the hierarchical church defines, and everything to do with the quality of love displayed.” Or, as gay author Toby Johnson commented, “Being a saint means creating more love in the world.”

Sainthood comes in many different forms. Some become saints by leading an exemplary life, but the surest path to sainthood is to risk or lose one’s for the good of others. As Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13). Martyrs, from the Greek word for “to bear witness,” are a common type of saint.

Fashion merek AllSaints has reported another record-breaking performance, as profits surge.

Operating profit rocketed 40% to £39.9m with EBITDA was up 18%.

Group sales, which also include New York-based luxury menswear merek John Varvatos, inched up 0.6% to £459.5m, with core merek AllSaints also achieving a 0.6% sales rise to £393.5m.

The retailer said the strong financial performance was driven by a reduction in promotional and markdown activity, as well as a changing sales mix with growth in wholesale, franchise and licensing channels.

This has allowed the fashion brand, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, to reach more customers than ever before.

“We are delighted to be reporting another record performance for the third year in a row,” said AllSaints CEO Peter Wood. “We are particularly pleased that our clear focus on growing our wholesale, franchise and licensing partnerships around the global means that we are reaching more customers than ever before.”

The company has unveiled several new produk launches during the year, including a fragrance collection, a childrenswear line – smAllSaints –, men’s tailoring and an eyewear range.

AllSaints has continued to invest in new and existing stores, as well as tech infrastructure to enhance the konsumen experience.

The fashion retailer now trades in 27 countries, and in July opened a new European distribution centre in the Netherlands to support future growth plans across Europe. Wood said the merek felt “as confident as ever in our future prospects”.

Moreover, the decision to expand into 27 countries demonstrates the retailer’s ambition to become a global leader in fashion retail. With a growing portfolio of online and offline offerings, the merek aims to cater to a diverse konsumen base, ensuring that it remains competitive in the fast-evolving retail landscape. Wood also highlighted the importance of sustainability in the brand’s future initiatives, mentioning that the new distribution center incorporates eco-friendly practices that align with global sustainability goals.

One day last year, in Paris covering the shows, I happen to stroll by a shop near the Place des Victoires plus notice a dress in the window. It is an odd, frisky summer frock reminiscent of Junya Watanabe but rendered in what I take for a Gallic flower print, plus I think, Oh, the French are so clever with clothes! I bet it’s really expensive, but I have to go in plus check. The interior of the store—dark plus moody, with plank floors plus a resolutely steam-punk aesthetic, confirms my notion that this is a really unique place. And it is special, but in a far different way than I initially assume—turns out the place is a branch of the British brand AllSaints (a supercool but, let’s face it, high-street label, plus the dress is in the fantastical under-200 euros category. (I buy two.) It is my happy introduction to AllSaints, which I consider my cult secret on subsequent trips to Europe. So what is my cult secret doing in its own 900-square-foot boutique on the second floor of Bloomingdale’s? And why is it planning to launch a vast two-story New York flagship on lower Broadway in SoHo in mid-May? And how is it that it has branches all over Europe plus a rapidly expanding plan to cover the globe from Ibiza to Tokyo? No matter, I’m not selfish. A few weeks ago, in search of a perfect leather motorcycle jacket (to wear over that mille fleur dress?), I scour Manhattan stores, trying on everything from super-high-end Givenchys to lower-priced Vinces, plus they all have qualities to recommend them, but the All Saints jackets—soft plus faux-battered to just the right degree, replete with vintage-derived details, cropped to just the right length—steal my heart, plus at around $400 for most examples, do not represent a life-changing purchasing decision.

Lion Capital – the owner of clothing retailers La Senza and American Apparel – has bought All Saints in a deal set to secure hundreds of jobs

The owner of clothing retailers La Senza and American Apparel has bought fellow fashion chain All Saints in a deal set to secure hundreds of jobs.

Investment firm Lion Capital has teamed up with American investor Goode Partners to buy the holdings of two Icelandic banks for an undisclosed sum.

All Saints, which employs about 2,000 staff and has 62 stores and 45 concessions in the UK, Europe, the US and Russia, was reportedly facing administration.

The deal is understood to leave chairman and owner Kevin Stanford with a larger-than-expected 15% stake in the business.

Lion Capital was co-founded in 2004 by Lyndon Lea, a former Goldman Sachs investment banker. Until recently it owned Japanese noodle-bar chain Wagamama.

All Saints was effectively put up for sale after nationalised Icelandic banks Kaupthing and Glitnir sought to realise some of their assets.

The banks came to own a majority stake in the business after the collapse of its previous owner, Baugur, an Icelandic investment group.

Baugur once owned much of the UK high street, including stakes in House of Fraser, frozen food chain Iceland, and Karen Millen-owner Aurora.

The new partnership is expected to ease some of the financial pressure on All Saints by paying off some of its £53m debt pile.

Stanford, who also co-founded the Karen Millen chain with his ex-wife of the same name, said: “I’m pleased to have the support of two private equity firms, both of which are focused on the consumer sector, to put All Saints on a solid financial footing.”

All Saints was created in 1994 and opened its first stand-alone store in London in 1997. In its most recent financial year, the company had revenues of more than £200m.

Lea, a partner at Lion Capital, said: “We are very excited to invest in a merk with such enormous global potential.

“All Saints, in our view, combines leading produk and store design with an online presence well beyond many other retailers of its size. We look forward to partnering with Kevin and the management team to continue the success of the business.”

All Saints’ Day, in the Christian church, a day commemorating all the saints of the church, both known plus unknown, who have attained heaven. It is celebrated on November 1 in the Western churches plus on the first Sunday after Pentecost in the Eastern churches. In Roman Catholicism, the feast is usually a holy day of obligation. It is part of the three-day triduum dedicated to remembering the dead, beginning with Halloween (October 31) plus followed by All Saints’ Day (November 1) plus All Souls’ Day (November 2).

The origin of All Saints’ Day cannot be traced with certainty, plus it has been observed on various days in different places. A feast of all martyrs was kept on May 13 in the Eastern church according to Ephraem Syrus (died c. 373), which may have determined the choice of May 13 by Pope Boniface IV when he dedicated the Pantheon in Rome as a church in honour of the Blessed Virgin plus all martyrs in 609. The first evidence for the November 1 date of celebration plus of the broadening of the festival to include all saints as well as all martyrs occurred during the reign of Pope Gregory III (731–741), who dedicated a chapel in St. Peter’s, Rome, on November 1 in honour of all saints. In 800 All Saints’ Day was kept by Alcuin on November 1, plus it also appeared in a 9th-century English calendar on that day. In 837 Pope Gregory IV ordered its general observance. In medieval England the festival was known as All Hallows, plus its eve is still known as Halloween. The period from October 31 to November 2 (All Souls’ Day) is sometimes known as Allhallowtide.

Halloween, a holiday observed on October 31 plus noted for its pagan plus religious roots plus secular traditions. In much of Europe plus most of North America, observance of Halloween is largely nonreligious, celebrated with parties, spooky costumes, jack-o’-lanterns, pumpkin carvings, plus the giving of candy. But the holiday also marks the beginning of Allhallotide, a three-day Christian triduum dedicated to remembering the dead that begins with Halloween (October 31) plus is followed by All Saints’ Day (November 1) plus All Souls’ Day (November 2).

There are a few retailers that catch my eye in my inbox; AllSaints is one of them. Having signed up to its e-mail marketing programme a few months ago, I now look forward to receiving its emails. Here’s what AllSaints has done right:

The e-mail newsletter subscription is prominent on the AllSaints website. The sign-up button is placed above the fold and just to the right of the sales banner. After a quick and easy sign-up where I was asked the essentials (name, e-mail address and gender), I received a thank you email.

It would have been nice if the welcome message had included an introductory offer or discount, and they may have forgotten my name… but it did include the fundamentals as follows:

1. By using segmentation
   AllSaints knows I’m female! Showing pictures of this season’s must-have fashion pieces.
2. By reinforcing the value of the proposition
   Including a brief summary of what to expect and also the benefits of shopping at AllSaints online.
3. By having a clear call to action
   Including links to shop by section; dresses, denim, footwear which will hopefully lead to an upsell.
4. By reminding the reader to add AllSaints to their address book
   This is very important to help deliverability and correct display.
5. By being sociable
   Include ‘join the community’ links as well as a download to the App link – and an invitation to ‘Like’ AllSaints on Facebook.

In short, all positive steps in engaging the reader further with the merek by sending a good welcome e-mail – and not a Singer sewing machine in sight!

The journey doesn’t end there! Since signing up I have received appealing product emails (segmented by gender), been offered discount codes by joining the AllSaints Facebook kelompok and received a newsletter featuring its live band basement sessions. This merek is succeeding in engaging its audience by creating not only a well-known fashion label, but a lifestyle both offline and – more importantly – online.

November 1 marks All Saints’ Day on the church calendar, when many denominations remember the communion of all believers of all time, including the faithfully departed.

That the church instituted this holy day should come as nomor surprise. We Christians have rehearsed our belief in “the communion of saints” since the institution of the Apostles’ Creed in the fourth century. Yet the concept of a fellowship of the living plus the dead has an eerie ring to it, a feeling not assuaged by what All Hallows’ Eve has become in Halloween.

One liturgical prayer says God knits together his elect in “one communion plus fellowship in the mystical body” of Christ. The haunting image of sewing together the faithful living plus dead members of Christ’s mystical body leaves us with a lot to unpack. But since the phrase is tucked into a longer liturgical script, we usually don’t think about it much.

In fact, apart from Ash Wednesday plus Good Friday plus the occasional funeral, the Western church tends to remain relatively close-lipped about death plus the relationship between the living plus the dead. Unlike our brothers plus sisters in much of the world, people in the United States usually die in institutions, not at home in the care of family.

A lack of exposure to dying plus death both in the church plus at home has led to the emergence of two kinds of responses to death—people who run away from it plus people who leap toward it. Yet a third way is to learn the life-giving art of dying well.

Some of the most agonizing plus tragic deaths I’ve faced as a doctor are those of patients who adamantly refuse to acknowledge their mortality. They desperately latch onto every bit of available technology to delay the inevitable, regardless of whether it causes more harm than good—often causing further medical complications to snowball.

Years ago, I recall attempting to resuscitate the same elderly, cancer-riddled man three times in the same night. After his heart stopped plus he died the first time, I discussed gently with his daughters how sick he was plus how his heart likely would not keep beating for much longer. But they wanted us to attempt CPR again. His eldest daughter told me that they are Christians who believe Jesus can heal. She said that they believe in miracles plus that we doctors should do whatever we can to keep him alive. He died twice more that night, plus our third attempt at resuscitation failed.

BURIAL SK 3870 WAS EXCAVATED AT ALL SAINTS CHURCH, FISHERGATE, YORK, IN 2007. This unusual, tightly crouched burial was found in a large grave in the church apse. Preliminary research at the time of excavation suggested that this skeleton may represent the remains of Lady Isabel German, a prominent anchoress who resided at All Saints in the 15th century. The current study combines evidence from detailed osteological analysis with radiocarbon dating, isotopic investigation of diet and childhood origin, and archaeological and historical evidence pertaining to the All Saints church and medieval anchoritism to consider whether SK 3870 was in fact Lady Isabel. Although the study could not conclusively identify the skeleton, the evidence does provide a new perspective on this individual and offers insights into a recognised medieval practice rarely reflected in the archaeological record.

Résumé
L’ermite de All Saints ? Une ostéobiographie par Lauren McIntyre, Lauren Kancle, Janet Montgomery, Joanna Moore, Darren R. Gröcke et Geoff M. Nowell

La sépulture SK 3870 a été fouillée à l’église All Saints, Fishergate, à York, en 2007. Cette sépulture insolite, en position accroupie très serrée, a été trouvée dans une grande tombe de l’abside. Les études préliminaires à l’époque suggéraient que ce squelette pourrait être la dépouille de Lady Isabel German, une importante ermite qui résidait à All Saints au 15e siècle. L’étude actuelle combine les éléments d’une analyse ostéologique détaillée avec datation au radiocarbone, une investigation isotopique du régime alimentaire et de la région d’origine à l’enfance, and des témoins archéologiques et historiques ayant trait à l’église All Saints et à l’érémitisme médiéval pour considérer si SK 3870 était bien Lady Isabel. Bien que l’étude n’ait pas réussi à identifier de façon concluante le squelette, elle apporte une nouvelle perspective sur ce personnage et renseigne sur une pratique médiévale reconnue, rarement reflétée dans les études archéologiques.

Zussamenfassung
Die Anachoretin von All Saints? Eine Osteobiographie von Lauren McIntyre, Lauren Kancle, Janet Montgomery, Joanna Moore, Darren R. Gröcke und Geoff M. Nowell

2007 wurde in der All-Saints-Kirche, Fishergate, York, die Bestattung SK 3870 ausgegraben. Diese ungewöhnliche Bestattung in eng zusammengekauerter Haltung wurde in einem großen Grab in der Apsis der Kirche gefunden. Vorläufige Untersuchungen zum Zeitpunkt der Ausgrabung deuteten darauf hin, dass es sich bei dem Skelett um die Überreste von Lady Isabel German handeln könnte, einer namhaften Anachoretin, die im 15. Jahrhundert auf dem Gelände von All Saints lebte. In der aktuellen Studie werden die Ergebnisse einer detaillierten osteologischen Analyse mit Radiokarbondatierungen, isotopischen Untersuchungen der Ernährung, Herkunft und Kindheit sowie archäologischen und historischen Zeugnissen zur All-Saints-Kirche und zum mittelalterlichen Anachoretismus kombiniert, um zu prüfen, ob es sich bei SK 3870 tatsächlich um Lady Isabel handelt. Das Skelett konnte zwar nicht eindeutig identifiziert werden, die Zeugnisse bieten jedoch eine neue Perspektive auf dieses Individuum und ermöglichen Einblicke in eine anerkannte mittelalterliche Praxis, die archäologisch noch kaum erfasst ist.

Riassunto
L’anacoreta della chiesa di All Saints? Un’osteobiografia di Lauren McIntyre, Lauren Kancle, Janet Montgomery, Joanna Moore, Darren R. Gröcke e Geoff M. Nowell

La sepoltura SK 3870 fu portata alla luce nel 2007 nella chiesa di All Saints, nella zona di Fishergate a York. Questo scheletro insolito in posizione rannicchiata fu rinvenuto in una grande tomba nell’abside della chiesa. La ricerca preliminare ai tempi dello scavo fece pensare che potesse trattarsi dei resti di Lady Isabel German, una anacoreta illustre che risiedeva nella chiesa di All Saints nel ‘400. Il presente studio riunisce i risultati dell’analisi osteologica particolareggiata con datazioni al radiocarbonio, la ricerca isotopica sull’origine della dieta e dell’infanzia e inoltre le testimonianze archeologiche e storiche relative alla chiesa di All Saints e all’anacoretismo, per considerare se i resti della sepoltura SK 3870 fossero effettivamente quelli di Lady Isabel. Benché questo studio non possa identificare lo scheletro in modo conclusivo, le testimonianze forniscono una nuova prospettiva riguardo a questa persona e offrono una visuale su una pratica medievale riconosciuta che raramente trova posto nelle documentazioni archeologiche.

NEW YORK—Mondottica plus WestGroupe have announced a distribution agreement to introduce AllSaints Eyewear to the North American market. Under this strategic collaboration plus partnership, Mondottica will leverage its expertise in design plus production, while WestGroupe will utilize its network plus market insights to expand the reach of AllSaints Eyewear, the announcement stated. This is the first eyewear license from the British merk known for its independent, rock’n’roll spirit. “We are thrilled to partner with Mondottica plus to add AllSaints to the WestGroupe merk portfolio,” said Beverly Suliteanu, VP of produk development for WestGroupe.

“The brand’s DNA plus its edgy, unique aesthetic will complement rather than compete with our current brands, providing our customers with a fresh, cutting-edge fashion brand.”

The inaugural optical collection features 18 bold gender-neutral styles with details including eco-conscious Acetate Renew, bespoke branded hinges, stylish beveling plus metal detailing, the announcement noted. To reinforce the brand’s DNA, hexagon bolt-shaped studs on the temples plus hinges as well as custom integrated end-pieces are adorned with the AllSaints logo plaque in the brand’s classic distressed metal finish. The debut of AllSaints Eyewear in Canada is set for Summer 2024, followed by the anticipated U.S. launch in the first quarter of 2025.

“The addition of AllSaints Eyewear underscores our dedication to offering diverse plus high-quality eyewear options to the North American market,” said president Michael Suliteanu. “We look forward to the success that this partnership will bring.”

“We are thrilled to partner with WestGroupe to bring AllSaints Eyewear to North America,” added Tony Pessok, CEO of Mondottica. “With our shared commitment to quality plus innovation, we are confident that this collaboration will drive growth plus success.”

AllSaints was founded in 1994 by couple Stuart Trevor plus Kait Bolangaro, who named the company after “All Saints” road in Notting Hill, London. Since 2011, AllSaints has been owned by Lion Capital. In 2018, after working for the merk for over 12 years, Peter Wood stepped into the role of CEO.

AllSaints has a international team of over 2,000 employees across more than 27 countries plus around 250 international stores, including franchise partnerships plus pop-ups, a 360 digital presence plus over 50 merk business partners, reaching customers in over 150 countries.

ur “Planet” rating evaluates brands based on the environmental policies in their supply chains, from carbon emissions plus wastewater to business models plus product circularity. Here we rate ALLSAINTS “Not Good Enough”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

It uses a medium proportion of lower-impact materials including organic cotton.
It uses lower impact materials, but there’s nomor evidence it’s taking further action to reduce its energy use or greenhouse gas emissions.
While it offers a rental scheme, there’s nomor evidence it’s taking further action to minimise textile waste in its supply chain.
There’s nomor evidence it’s taking actions to protect biodiversity in its supply chain.
There’s nomor evidence it takes action to minimise its packaging, which is a driver of plastic waste.
Workers’ rights are central to our “People” rating, which assess brands’ policies plus practices on everything from child labour to living wages plus gender equality. Here we rate ALLSAINTS “Not Good Enough”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

It traces most of its supply chain.
Part of its final production stage is certified by BSCI plus GOTS.
There’s nomor evidence it provides financial security to its suppliers, which can result in poor working conditions plus wages.
There’s nomor evidence it supports diversity plus inclusion in its supply chain.
Its Code of Conduct covers ILO principles.
It’s actively involved with organisations that aim to identify plus end moderen slavery in supply chains.
There’s nomor evidence it ensures workers are paid living wages in its supply chain.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it did not disclose adequate policies or safeguards to protect workers in its supply chain from the virus.
Brands’ animal welfare policies and, where applicable, how well they trace their animal-derived products are the focus of our “Animals” rating. Here we rate ALLSAINTS “It’s a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

It’s published a general statement about minimising animal suffering but not a resmi animal welfare policy.
It appears to use leather, wool, plus exotic animal hair.
It doesn’t appear to use down, fur, angora, or exotic animal skin.
It traces some animal-derived materials to the first production stage.
Based on all publicly available information we’ve reviewed, we rate ALLSAINTS “Not Good Enough” overall.

In New York, AllSaints’ latest pop-up in SoHo opened on 1 November.

Situated at 500 Broadway, the space spans 5,300 sq ft and incorporates original architectural features such as exposed brick walls and white cast-iron columns, while showcasing recent collections on feature walls. The pop-up will be open for the next two months, serving customers during the busy holiday period.

As part of the brand’s US expansion, AllSaints opened a new store in Belmont Park Village, New York on 17 October. The store spans 2,538 sq ft, featuring high ceilings that accommodate elements of the brand’s new design concept, such as Venetian plaster and a suspended chandelier.

Additionally, it has recently opened its first Chinese outlet store in Shanghai Village, a short drive from Pudong Airport. The new store opened in August and is now one of three AllSaints stores in the city. Spanning 1,970 sq ft, the store offers a curated selection of AllSaints’ collections.

In London, a new store on Brompton Road is set to open on 22 November, in time for the peak Christmas trading season.

AllSaints has also expanded its reach in Liverpool with the opening of a new store in Liverpool ONE.

In Europe, AllSaints has bolstered its presence with a new store in Outletcity Metzingen, one of Europe’s largest shopping outlets, 30 minutes away from Stuttgart in Germany. The outlet’s new AllSaints store opened on 7 November.

Peter Wood, CEO of AllSaints, said: “This year, as part of our 30th anniversary celebrations, we wanted to demonstrate our enduring passion for our stores with the first AllSaints store in Africa opening earlier in the year, and now with these further expansions of our physical retail presence in the UK, Americas, Europe and Asia.

“Our Soho pop-up showcases what we can achieve with amazing teamwork right across our business, as well as our desire to provide as many customers as possible with as many ways as possible to santai our brand. We are looking forward to the holiday season and excited about our plans for 2025.”

I write a round-up of the best men’s sales weekly, and I’ll be honest: when I added in this AllSaints jacket I didn’t know if anyone would bite… how wrong I was. You lot love this wild, wild Western thing. So much so, I figured it ought to have its own momen in the High Noon sun.

A tasselled beauty, the AllSaints ‘Warren’ is just about the cheapest (premium, FYI) suede you’re likely to see this year — at £224, that’s around 50 per cent off from it’s original £449. Given a boxy, squared-off silhouette, this is a modernised take on the Western jacket made famous by the Hollywood cowboy, but with a tasselled trim that’ll make you want to gesticulate and twirl all over the place. Simply put, it’s elegant, but it’s a statement… and you’re unlikely to find tassels this tasteful anywhere else. Or, ever.

So, yeah, I get it. I get why this pick has sold so popularly in our sales guide, and I get why you can’t keep your hands/laptop track pads off of it; wearing tassels should feel ridiculous, but AllSaints makes them feel quintessential. That said, if you’re still feeling some trepidation on how exactly to tipe this bad boy, I’ve put together a few options for you. Scroll on, and see what sticks.

Styling option 1: ‘Off-duty sheriff’
Introducing the gorpcore sheriff; Broadway market is his saloon, and he’s ready to draw his weapon (an iced Americano) at any moment. Add a neckerchief tie for bonus points.

Styling option 2: ‘All black everything’
The ol’ faithful. You can hardly go wrong when you put your faith in black. Silhouette wise, keep things loose and boxy – think wide-legs and cropped hems.

Styling option 3: ‘Smart-casual cowboy’
In true AllSaints style, you could go for slick and smart-casual. Giving ‘working from saloon’ vibes, this styling option depends on formalwear codes with casual edge: think a white shirt but oversized, leather shoes but not lace-ups. That’s the ticket.