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.