All Hallows' Eve falls on October 31 and is the day before All Hallows' Day, also known as All Saints Day in the Christian calendar.

The Church traditionally held a vigil on All Hallows' Eve when worshippers would prepare themselves with prayers and fasting ready for the feast day itself.

The name originates from the Old English 'hallowed' meaning holy and is now commonly known as the more familiar Hallowe'en. Many churches now offer a special service on All Hallows' Eve where people can come and remember 'the Saints' and rather those friends or family members who have passed away and maybe light a candle to remind them that Christ is the Light and hope for eternal life.

Over time popular culture has hijacked the festival in favour of a 'Thriller'-like festival mimicking ghouls, zombies and ghosts and trick or treating with young people holding unsuspecting neighbours to ransom if they don’t buy their safety from mischief with treats of sweets or money!

As a child I grew up on a country house estate and lived next to the archway of the old stable block! We used to dare each other to run through the archway in the pitch dark while the bats were flying around, terrifying ourselves!

On Saturday the churches in Kendal came together to offer an alternative to Hallowe’en by hosting an event for young people, 'Ignite the Light', a big gig with a band called Brightline from Manchester. These guys gave a different sort of message from thinking about death and decay and horror movies and bloody masks!

They rocked the place and shared their own stories about the Light and new life and hope through faith in Jesus Christ and for what really happens after death. Christians believe that death is not a fearful thing but a doorway to new life, an eternal life of light and restoration for all who believe.

Q: What if it really is true?

The Rev Wendy Thornton

Trainee Minister in the Kendal Methodist Circuit