Oct. 28, 2026
As Halloween looms on the horizon, I am again prepared to turn off my lights and pretend to not be at home. As a child, I did go out trick or treating, but when I was made to answer the door to trick or treaters, I developed a strong aversion to Halloween. It might be the fact that trick or treaters who were well past the age of “cuteness” were at my front door with their identities disguised or it might be due to the fact that as a young child, I was terrified by a clown in the nearby shopping mall. (I detest clowns to this very day) Whatever the reason, I just cannot summon up the gumption to open my front door to trick or treaters. We all know about the “Grinch that stole Christmas”, well in my family I am the “Susan that dislikes Halloween”. In any case, I found some historical facts about the origins of Halloween. If you are a Halloweener, by all means, enjoy the night. I, on the other hand, will be hunkered down in the family room watching TV in the dark.
Halloween originated over 2,000 years ago from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in).
Celtic Samhain Roots
- New Year’s Eve: The Celts—who lived in areas that are now Ireland, the UK, and northern France—celebrated their new year on November 1.
- The Veil Thins: October 31 marked the end of the harvest and the start of the cold, dark winter. The Celts believed the boundary between the living and the dead blurred on this night.
- Bonfires and Costumes: People lit large sacred bonfires, offered crops or animals to deities, and wore animal heads or skins to hide from or confuse wandering spirits.
Christian Influence
- All Saints’ Day: In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III moved All Saints’ Day (All Hallows’) to November 1 to honour all saints and martyrs.
- All Hallows’ Eve: The night before became known as All Hallows’ Eve, which eventually shortened to Halloween.
- Souling: Over time, church traditions absorbed older customs, such as poor people going “a-souling” (begging for food or “soul cakes” in exchange for prayers for the dead).
Evolution of Traditions
- Jack-o’-Lanterns: Rooted in the Irish legend of Stingy Jack, a man who tricked the Devil and was forced to wander the earth with a glowing coal inside a hollowed-out turnip (later replaced by pumpkins in North America).
- Trick-or-Treating: Evolved from a mix of British mumming, Scottish guising, and medieval souling, turning into a popular neighborhood custom by the mid-20th century.
- Immigration to North America: Irish and Scottish immigrants fleeing the Great Famine in the 19th century brought these customs to North America, shaping the modern, largely secular holiday known today.
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Come join us for refreshments and a talk by Laleh Teymour Nezhad, Community Engagement Manager from
Right at Home.
Learn what services are available to seniors who are still living at home and want to stay there. Sponsored by the Outreach
Committee.
Where? Graceview Presbyterian Church
588 Renforth Drive
Etobicoke ON M9C 2N5
416-621-0888
office@graceview.ca
When? Monday November 16, 10:00 AM
Please let us know if you’re coming so we can be prepared with refreshments.
St. James Food Bank
St. James Food Basket is once again in need of egg cartons. (Cartons for a dozen eggs or a half dozen eggs only). Please leave them in the cloakroom at Graceview and they will be taken to St. James. Thank you for your help.
Fall Devotional Update (October 12)
A new edition of These Days (October/November/December), as well as the current edition of Our Daily Bread (September/October/November) are available on the table in the church vestibule and in the devotional box on the church porch.
Scripture Readers
Please be advised that a printed copy of the psalms and the scriptures that are to be read on any given Sunday will be placed on the lectern for every Sunday worship service. It has come to our attention that some of our dear readers do not have the ability to make a copy of the readings that Halyna sends out every week. She will now be making a single copy which will be in place in case a reader is not able to have their own printed copy. This will, hopefully, prevent issues of reading the wrong scripture or the wrong version of the scripture. The printed version is exactly what appears on the screen so that everyone is on the same page!
Bible Study Dates
Please take notes of the remaining dates that the Bible Study will occur.
Nov. 3; Nov. 17
Coffee/Tea Sign Up
It is time again to volunteer for coffee/tea service after worship services. The sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board in the Adamson Lounge. September is already full, but there are plenty of spots left for the remainder of the year. If you can, please sign up for multiple dates, so that we are not left short at the last minute.
Thank you
Nov. – Outreach
Dec. 6 – Susan & Kathy
Dec. 13 – Pat & Harry
Dec. 20 –
Dec. 27 –