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All Saints Day


Items needed:

Candles and a make-shift alter

The day after Halloween (or All Hallows Eve) is known in the ancient Christian calendar as All Saints Day. Traditionally, it’s November 1st and is about remembering the saints who have gone before us as the days fade into colder, darker hours and winter approaches.

Untraditionally, we suggest you celebrate this holiday sometime this month in a new, creative way.

Gather family and friends together- it can be around the kitchen table, somewhere special outside, or even a planned religious service.

Let there be an open time of sharing.
Ask, “Who has been a “saint” in your life? Someone who’s
been a “light” for you?” It could be someone who’s passed or still with us, someone you know intimately or an artist/writer who’s deeply inspired you from afar, they could be religious or not…

Honor them by naming them, remembering how they’ve lit up your life. Perhaps share a story. Then light a candle to represent them and set it in the area you’ve designated as an alter.

This activity works with a large room of people or even privately on your own. Celebrate how you see fit.

Featured Artist: Tony Garza

Tony Garza is one of our favorite local artists. Much of his work lives in our home where we are inspired by its beauty and truth daily. Tony has a way of telling stories through his paintings that are deeply moving. He created this piece, titled “Remember” specifically for our October almanac.

TONY GARZA

Bio: “I enjoy painting animals. Not because I like animals, but because I love that for many people certain creatures personify human characteristics. They’re great symbols to use when communicating a message, because the life in them demands the viewer to relate on some level.”

Through his work, Tony Garza strives to communicate elements of truth- whether personal or universal, beautiful or ugly.
He believes there is always a story to be told.

Tony Garza lives in Greeley, Colorado with his wife and 2 girls.

Follow him on Instagram @tonychristophergarza.

For more of our featured artists, click here.

October Theme: Remember

A poem for October. “Remember” is our theme for the month and all our posts here will play on that theme, for the most part. Fall is my favorite time of year and October my favorite month… so this should be a good time!

REMEMBER

October is a swan song

A last grand gesture of earth color and twilight
before everything sustained by light and warmth
fades into winter

The beautiful funeral is felt in
gray skies, falling leaves, and shorter hours

In the face of the Great Sleep
It’s best to

hope
and
Remember

to keep account of the memories of days
filled with vibrant greens and full hours

So we head forward
into the dark with a candle

and a recollection