The Night of All Souls
The Night of All Souls (November 2) rapidly approaches. Often associated with Catholic Latin American countries All Souls is increasingly woven into the fabric of the broader community, particularly here in multi-cultural Vancouver. In our death-den 
ying culture, how wonderful it is to have permission to publicly acknowledge the presence of death in our lives.
In many local cemeteries you will see food arranged at gravesites, drinks poured, gifts offered, and notes left. Mountain View Cemetery, for instance, hosts A Night for All Souls (Oct 29 – Nov 2) with installations by local artists and participatory rituals that invite the public to honour their dead with candles, shrines, flowers, and the sweeping and decorating of graves. There are many ways to express our hearts to the dead.
As anyone who lives near a cemetery or drives along a busy highway can tell you, our desire to remember and communicate with those who have passed away happens not just on the Night of All Souls but all year round too. Such memorials take many forms–wreaths, bouquets of flowers, small items the deceased person enjoyed while they were alive, or notes and photos encased in plastic sleeves. Read More >
