Tonight is All Hallows' Eve—more popularly called Hallowe'en—the first day of the Allhallowtide "triduum." Allhallowtide consists of three days: Hallowe'en, All Hallows' Day (also called All Saints' Day) and All Souls' Day. Essentially, Hallowe'en is the vigil, the night before the Holy Day of All Saints' Day (1 November). On All Saints' Day, all the saints are commemorated—both those whom we can name and those we do not know. 2 November is All Souls' Day—the day when all the faithful departed are commemorated.
Since the early days of the Christian Church, various locales celebrated varying days for the commemoration of Christian martyrs. Later, this celebration was broadened to honor all the saints (martyred or not). In the Seventh Century, this celebration was expanded throughout the entire Church. And, by the Ninth Century, the feast seems to have landed on 1 November. Some speculate that 1 November was selected because of the Pagan Celtic celebration of the dead which occurred on or about that date. Other historians credit this date selection to the date on which Pope Gregory III dedicated an oratory within Old St. Peter's Basilica (in Rome) to all the saints. And, as is the case with many Christian feasts, the night before serves as a vigil—a watchful waiting for the holy day to come.
One of the traditions associated with Hallowe'en is the displaying of pumpkins (some of them carved with ghoulish faces). The English Art Deco vase, shown above, is reminiscent of a vertically-ribbed, Autumnal gourd. It was made by Pilkington Royal Lancastrian in the Twenties or Thirties. Click on the photo above to learn more about it.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
We also can be found in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com).
Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248