Edited by MCK Sokół | Lesser Poland
Suffering of the soul measured by canisters of tears
Country: Poland
Region: Lesser Poland
Type of inspiration: Cultural customs
Inspiracja
The night separating All Saints' Day (1 November) from All Souls' Day (2 November) was widely regarded as the time when souls return from the afterlife. The deceased parishioners, according to some accounts only the saved souls, were supposed to gather at that time in the church for a service celebrated by the deceased priest. That is why churches were not closed for that night, liturgical vestments and chalices were not hidden, and candles were left lit. If someone wanted to see their deceased loved one again, they could sneak into the church that night. In the Kicznia area, there was a story about a woman despairing after the death of her son. Believing in stories of souls returning to earth, she dared to spend All Souls' Night hidden under the choir of the local church. As it was said, a long procession of the dead passed through the church at midnight. Her son walked at the very end, bending under the weight of wooden watering cans filled to the brim. On seeing his mother, he approached her, asking her to stop crying for him. As it turned out, the burden she must be carrying in hardship and suffering were her tears.
Watching the souls participating in the night mass could have ended tragically. Among the highlanders of the Podhale region, the story was repeated of a curious peasant who was strangled by the souls peeping in church. Another, who was dressed in sheepskins, managed to see and hear everything, but his souls eventually spotted him too and wanted to choke him. He was saved by the skins, which, as he fled, he gradually shed to keep his souls busy plucking wool.
During this unusual time, the dead also visited their homes. Mothers who had early-dead children came to feed and cuddle them, farmers looked after the farmyard, the livestock and the bees. In many houses, food was prepared for the souls or at least bread was left on the table for them to eat, tired and hungry after their long trek.
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Nowy Sącz
Poland Lesser Poland
