Yesterday, on all Saints' Day, most of the people in the country of Poland visited the graveyards. Every family grave must be cleaned, decorated with fresh wreaths, and candles lit to help the deceased on their road to Heaven. People travel many kilometers to visit the cemetery where your family is buried. Droves of people line the road on the way to the graveyard. Families gather to pay their respects to their relatives. The sit on the benches by the graves and visit, pray, or just think. My one friend told me that she doesn't have any family that has died so they put candles on soldiers' graves. Some people might visit 20 graves.
But, outside the cemetery, it is more like a carnival. Candles for sale of every shape and size, mums by the truckload, wreaths, balloons, food, and cotton candy. Cotton candy? In front of a graveyard? Seems completely out-of-place to me. But I do know that every year my children love if we buy a little of the sickenly sweet stuff.
To my family, this day is really not about the dead. It is more like cotton candy... a holiday... sleeping late... brunch... snacks... putting puzzles together... talking a walk... throwing frisbee... just a welcome break from the daily school routine.
That is how we celebrated the day yesterday. It was a wonderful day. And to top it off, in the evening, we made homemade donuts, to the delight of all the children (and the adults, too). Such fun memories!!!
Text message from John on my phone today: "Look out the window! It's snowing!"
But, outside the cemetery, it is more like a carnival. Candles for sale of every shape and size, mums by the truckload, wreaths, balloons, food, and cotton candy. Cotton candy? In front of a graveyard? Seems completely out-of-place to me. But I do know that every year my children love if we buy a little of the sickenly sweet stuff.
To my family, this day is really not about the dead. It is more like cotton candy... a holiday... sleeping late... brunch... snacks... putting puzzles together... talking a walk... throwing frisbee... just a welcome break from the daily school routine.
That is how we celebrated the day yesterday. It was a wonderful day. And to top it off, in the evening, we made homemade donuts, to the delight of all the children (and the adults, too). Such fun memories!!!
Text message from John on my phone today: "Look out the window! It's snowing!"
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