Woodlands Academy celebrates what follows Halloween as well

Members of the Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart community joined in traditional All Saints Day and Day of the Dead observances that included an All Saints liturgy at the Lake Forest all-girls college-prep high school Friday, Nov. 1.

All Saints Day, also known as All Hallows Day, is a Christian festival celebrated in honor of all saints, known and unknown. In Western Christianity, it is celebrated on Nov. 1 by the Roman Catholic Church and such Protestant denominations as the Lutheran Church, United Methodist Church and Church of the Nazarene.

“No matter what religion one may practice we are all called to be saints,” senior Andrea Pulaski, of Waukegan, said in welcoming those attending Woodlands Academy’s celebration of the solemnity of All Saints Day. “A saint is a person who demonstrates his or her love for God and their neighbors in their words and through their actions. They are not afraid of taking a risk and being what God has called them to be,” she added.

Day of the Dead (aka All Souls Day) is celebrated throughout Mexico and by people of Mexican heritage elsewhere. This multi-day observance is often referred to as “the Days of the Dead” because it encompasses Oct. 31 (Halloween aka All Hallows Eve), Nov. 1 (All Saints Day) and Nov. 2 (Day of the Dead). During this time, family and friends gather to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died as well as helping to support their spiritual journey. Day of the Dead is observed not as a day of sadness but rather as a day of celebration because, in Mexican culture, death is viewed as a natural part of the human cycle.

Woodlands Academy’s diversity club, along with students in Spanish classes and World Religions, created a traditional Day of the Dead altar outside the school’s chapel displaying various remembrances of loved ones who have passed away. In addition to photos, the altar included such things as items that were treasured by those being honored.

The Christian celebrations of All Saints' Day and Day of the Dead stem from a belief that there is a powerful spiritual bond between those in Heaven and the living. In Roman Catholic theology, the observance commemorates all those who have attained the beatific vision in Heaven. In United Methodist theology, All Saints Day revolves around “giving God solemn thanks for the lives and deaths of his saints.” As such, individuals throughout the Church Universal are honored, such as Paul the Apostle, Augustine of Hippo and John Wesley.

Woodlands Academy’s multi-day observance of the season began on a lighter note Halloween Day. Students, faculty and staff alike joined in the fun leading up to the annual Halloween costume competition organized by the school’s spirit committee. Following displays of both group and individual creativity in the dining room at lunchtime, winners were declared in various categories based on the audience’s reaction to them.

###

Founded in 1858, Woodlands Academy is an independent Catholic college preparatory day and boarding high school for young women. It’s part of a worldwide network of Sacred Heart Schools that spans the United States and 40 other countries. A nonprofit, Woodlands Academy’s identity is rooted in Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat’s desire to inspire young hearts and minds to excel, to lead lives of integrity and to serve. For more information about Woodlands Academy, please visit www.woodlandsacademy.org