SW News: Think of Halloween and what comes to mind are ghoulish costumes and spooky looking carved pumpkin lamps. What is originally a hallowed feast of All Saints has been parodied and turned into a celebration of the macabre by entities with sinister motives. However, a Spanish diocese is on a mission to make Halloween a Catholic feast once again by encouraging children and youth to pay obeisance to saints and observe the day in a worthy and reverent manner.

After a pandemic-induced one-year gap, the Diocese of Alacala de Henares in Spain is once again gearing up to host the Holywins Festival on Halloween. An initiative that was born in France in 2002, Holywins is an initiative aimed at lending an authentic Christian flavour to Halloween and promoting it with saint-themed masquerades, concerts, vigils and Eucharistic adorations. Holywins is a pun on the word ‘Halloween’ and it signifies the victory of holiness or sanctity over evil.

Inspired by a quote of Pope Francis who said, “The solemnity of All Saints is our feast not because we are good, but because the holiness of God has touched our life”, the diocese has undertaken preparations to host a large number of children and youths for Holywins Festival. On Sunday, October 31, children from all parts of the diocese will assemble at the Plaza de Armas by 5 pm local time for games and workshops. Children have been told to dress up as saints, such the three Archangels, St Clara of Assisi, St Teresa of Avila, St Teresa of Calcutta, St Francis Xavier and St Philip Neri to name a few. Some of them will come dressed as couples who are saints such as Saints Isidor Labrador-Maria de la Cabeza, Saints Aquila-Priscila and Saints Henry the Emperor-Empress Cunegund.

It will be followed by a procession to the cathedral where there will be a prayer service. At 7.30 pm local time, there will be Holy Mass presided over by Bishop Juan Antonio Reig Pla. A vigil will follow Holy Mass after  which there will be a Eucharistic procession to the Plaza de Armas. The event will conclude with Adoration, praise and worship and sharing of testimonies in the Plaza.
The diocese, which was the first in Spain to host Holywins Festival, said that the celebration of Halloween in its current form has no connection with the Christian faith.

“We Catholics want to give this day its true meaning and celebrate all those who heroically followed Christ with a luminous feast of All Saints that overflows with joy and hope,” said the diocese in a communique. It also slammed the cult of death and exaltation of the macabre through the celebration of Halloween that has gained currency across the world. Other dioceses too are hosting similar celebrations as a result of the French initiative.