All Saints' Procession
Today we celebrate the feast of all saints in the Middle Ages. Better known as All Saints' Day. All dead people who have been an example in Christian society are commemorated on this day. They live in heaven and can give a good word to God for us here on earth to help us through troubled times.
We are going to portray this today in a procession. Everyone can participate in it. Immerse yourself in the uncertain situation of the Middle Ages. Sickness, death and disaster are lurking. We put on medieval clothes over our clothes, take flags and guild banners with us, and sing through the streets of Gravendam. We call upon all the saints in heaven and also God to help us in our uncertainty and fear. By walking and praying together, we feel a little stronger in our lives.
The start time is stated on the day program.
For more information about the Minderbroederskoor, go to www.minderbroederskoor.nl
Songs of All Souls' Day
Time: 12 noon, 2.15 pm and 3 pm
Today we also celebrate the festival of All Souls' Day (actual date 2 November). Then we think of all the people who died in the past year and before. In the monastery, the Brothers sing the Gregorian requiem chants that belong to this festival. You are cordially invited to come and listen to this old ecclesiastical music.
Background information
Both Christian feasts have some resemblance to a pre-Christian Celtic feast also called Hallow-e'en, or All Hallows Eve, or All Saints' Eve. In the Celtic calendar, October 31 was New Year's Eve and November 1 was New Year's Day. It was the height of autumn. The harvest was in and the seed for the following year had been harvested. Winter could come.
The Celts also believed that on this day the spirits of the people who died in the past year would return to take possession of a living body. They tried to satisfy those spirits by putting food out front. And they tried to ward them off by wearing masks.
Christianity has taken over elements of this day, spread over two days: on November 1, the day is called All Saints' Day. The “harvest” of all people who have led such an exemplary Christian life that they have been canonized by people close to them is commemorated. A day later, on All Souls' Day (November 2), all deceased people of the past year and before are commemorated. By praying for their peace of mind, they hope to free them from their punishment in purgatory.
