This weekend we were able to witness a very special Swedish holiday, Allhegona afton, or All Saint's Day eve. It is a day for remembering those who have died and visiting their graves.
We visited Katarina church, on Söder (the southern part of downtown Stockholm), just after nightfall on Saturday, and found Stockholmers of all ages engaging in the lovely, comforting, and family-centered ceremony of placing candles and lanterns on the graves of loved ones.
We hadn´t expected that each grave would have more than one candle. It was truly beautiful.
Many families were there in large extended groups, quietly completing the steps of their own ceremonies, on this cold evening. We saw multiple generations visiting those that had come before and lighting up the night. Many families had brought a candle for each child to light, and it seemed magical.
I noticed a little girl and her grandmother quietly walking around in a wooded area off to the side. When we passed by, they were making their way out to the path. As the girl stepped out of the bushes, she said proudly (to the slight embarrassment of her grandma, I´m sure) "We lit a candle too! On that tree stump back there!" What a nice gift to that more spritely of ancestors.
And, though we didn't bring candles, I remembered all those family and friends who I have had the joy of knowing and loving, and the sadness of missing.
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