Today I was in our band's procession through the local cemetery. I know that All Souls used to be on the 2nd Nov, but here in Italy, they put both together.

It's a beautiful experience. So many graves are well kept, with photos of the deceased, and there were hundreds of people... and this is just a small town!

As usual, the shops were full of chrysanthenmums (if I've spelt that correctly, it'll be the first time) which everyone puts on the graves.

We played four pieces but had to wait for the local choir to keep butting in, and then had to stand still and not fidget during the service, which was quite funny because the sky was full of dark clouds and everyone was thinking the same thing and wondering what to do if it suddenly poured down.

My first primary school in Warwick was called Allsaints, so it holds a certain significance for me.

Steve

Thank you! I have had a liking for All Saints Day too since I was organist at an All Saints' in my teens - also some great hymns, and good to connect with those ahead of us in the long march ...

Some churches here celebrated All Souls as well yesterday. We are keeping it tonight, and singing Duruflé's requiem.

that sounds like a wonderful experience.

Well, it was the first time I've played for Allsaints. I don't know why I didn't play before. The bands here are mostly supported by the local councils and so we get a place to rehearse - usually a school - uniforms provided, and free food and drink which varies from a beer and handful of peanuts to a full 3 course meal!

In return we're obliged to play at certain occasions. These can be religious processions, or simply providing some music at sunday markets. We collaborate with another band for rehearsals and join forces for proper concerts.

One band wears red, the other black. Of course, communication is via telepathy here, and so I once arrived breathless for a concert in a church, wearing a red jacket, only to find everyone in black!! They all found it hilarious. I did not!

Steve

I have a fuzzy head and read this as "Happy Assailants to everyone" and scratched my head for about 4 seconds before reading it again..

Happy Allsaints The pianist at church yesterday said it was a nightmare trying to choose relevant hymns!

But that's why books like 'The English Hymnal' etc were written.

To make it easier to choose hymns. It gives the hymns for each occasion and also recommends other hymns that are suitable.

Perhaps the pianist meant 'hymns that he knew how to play'?

Steve

All Saints is also celebrated here - called "La Toussaint" and the holiday which would corresond to this term's half term is known as "Les vavances de Toussaint." People spend the previous week cleaning the graves and headstones the graves themselves are covered with flowers - usually pots of chrysanthemums. These flowers have come to be associated with la Toussaint and are rarely used otherwise in France. People do actually drive long distances to honour their family tombs and even in our tiny hamlet there have been several cars with non local registration numbers parked down by the tiny cemetery.

I think it's a rather nice way to commemorate bygone lives.

ah, so that's why the flower shop in Neufchatel had such a wonderful display of chrysanthemums last week!