Hallowthankmas

A word used by a fellow Head of School to describe that hectic period in schools between Halloween and Christmas, a time full of excitement and many activities as ghosts and black cats are replaced by Pilgrims and pumpkins and then Christmas trees and Santa Claus on classroom bulletin boards. Ironically, the three holidays have religious roots. The celebration of All Saints Day (or All Hallows as it is known in England) began on the evening before Hallows’eve or Hallow’een, Thanksgiving has its origin not among the Pilgrims, but is an example of the many harvest festivals celebrated by peoples around the world, and Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus, “the Word made Flesh.”  In a sense all three are times of giving thanks, for “all the saints of God who lived not only in ages past,” but are present in our lives today, for the gracious gifts of God at harvest time, and above all for the gift of His only begotten Son, yet, all have been thoroughly secularized in our culture today. Instead of honoring the lives of the saints we pay more attention to imaginary figures “Ghoulies, and Ghosties, and Things that go Bump in the Night.” Thanksgiving becomes overeating and naps while watching football games. Christmas is more about receiving than giving, letters to Santa, and decking the Malls. Lest this sound too much like Scrooge (Bah Humbug!), let us remember in the midst of our celebrations what they are all about and the spiritual truths they represent. Yes, we can take pleasure in them for He who came to bring us abundant life did not take away our sense of humor and our capacity to enjoy life, but He constantly calls us to look beyond the wrappings and see the true gift within and then give thanks with all our heart and soul for His great gift of Love. Halloween is past, but have a Happy Thanksgiving and in time a Blessed Christmas.

A. Dean Calcote