Autumnal Observations

What do St. Crispin, Halloween, All-Saints & Souls and Guy Fawkes have in common?

You are close, dear Reader. They are autumnal observations rooted in religion, history, folklore and whatnot.

Crispin and Crispinian were – a long time ago - the Catholic patron saints of tanners and cobblers. Their feast day has traditionally been October 25. However, under Vatican II reforms they were stripped of their day (reasons remain obscure). Ever more broad minded (my opinion) the Anglican Church retains the day as Black Letter Saints Day.

We know St. Crispin (old Shakespearians, at least) from the famous speech in Henry V:

This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he today that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now abed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day. (IV, iii)


Today is Halloween. My daughter’s black cat Harley adorns the picture frame this week or at least a replica of him. Harley is so black, scary and mischievous that he’s a natural poster boy for today.

Halloween’s close cousin is All Saints Day – followed by - All Souls Day. The festival of All Saints, also sometimes known as All Hallows or Hallowmas is a feast celebrated near or on the first Sunday after Pentecost in honor of all saints (excepting poor old Chrispian, apparently). All Souls' Day follows to commemorate the faithful dead or departed, as they say.

In keeping this international, let’s not forget our British friends and their excuse for a party next week on Guy Fawkes Day. The good Guy, so to speak, is best known for his involvement in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. This was an attempt by a group of English conspirators to kill King James I and most of the aristocracy by blowing up the House of Lords.

English school-children hum this little ditty on Guy Fawkes Day:

Remember, remember the fifth of November,
The gunpowder, treason and plot,
I know of no reason why the gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.

Does anyone have a word for a string of celebrations that fall reasonably close together and have a common theme?