Well, I guess I can say "Happy Halloween" to everyone or should I say "Happy Hallows Eve" as is it's real name!  Over the years Halloween has really become a pagan holiday, but believe it or not, it's origins really started with the early Christians.  "Hallow" is an old English word for "holy person".  All Hallows Eve began as the vigil to All Saints Day which is celebrated on November 1.  The vigil as well as the feast day have been celebrated since the early eighth century...hard to believe, right?  Many people today think of all the frightful things associated with Halloween, but in actuality, we should be remembering all the Saints - those known - and unknown to us.  This recognition (or veneration as we often call it) of the Saints  has occurred from some of the earliest periods of Church history.  The early Christians would honor the martyred saints on the anniversary of their deaths at the location they were martyred.  After a number of Christians were persecuted by Diocletian (284-305 A.D.), it resulted in a need for a special day to recognize each of them, as there were too many for each to have their own day.  Therefore this day was designated to honor this "communion of saints".  

Anyway, to stick with the appropriate theme for "All Hallows Eve", our little guy was a little MONK-ey  (as I often do call him)! 

"Father even let me borrow his zucchetto (that's the little skull cap on my head).....actually, now that I think of it, I don't think I asked to borrow it....I may have just tried it on....it fits, right?"

"Hey did anyone see my other shoe?"....

"Better get praying..."

"Happy All Saints Day"

"Hey Father, just wondering why you don't have your black habit on like me?  I thought we were supposed to coordinate?" ...."Oh, I see you didn't know my parents were doing this to me."  

 

If I had one guess, he is probably watching someone eat and wondering where his share is.....(haha)

Playing with some leaves....(hey, even little monks need to have some fun!)

"Ummm, excuse me, I know I'm small but can I get some attention down here (or at least a meatball)?"

"Oh, now you want to wear black!  I'm about ready to get out of this thing, and now you want to match!"  (haha)

He's our pumpkin that's for sure!!

Check out those teeth!!!  Four of them total so far!

Happy Hallows Eve!