7th Century Hallowtide – free book sample
17th Century Hallowtide was a time when new ideas and old practices clashed. Communities tore themselves apart with religion, tradition and superstition. It is All Hallows’ Eve, Halloween.
I want to share two chapters from God’s Vindictive Wrath with you. I hope you will enjoy the different perspectives on death and the afterlife as the characters struggle to come to terms with the terrible reality of the Battle of Edgehill at Hallowtide 1642.
Hallowtide – Hallowmas, All Saints & All Souls
In the 17th Century, Hallowtide stretched over three days. It started with All Hallows’ Eve, the evening before All Hallows Day. This is what we now call Halloween and falls on the night of 31st of October.
All Hallows Day, Hallowmas or All Saints Day falls on the 1st of November. In the Catholic world, this is followed by All Souls Day on the 2nd of November. In Early Modern Britain, many still clung to its rituals.
All Hallows’ Eve – church vigils & candles for the dead
This was once a time when the dead were remembered with church vigils, bells and burning candles. Many clung to the belief that the souls of their loved ones would be released from Purgatory to return home for this one night. They offered up prayers for their safe return and eventual passage on to Heaven.
In the Celtic world, this was Samhain. It marked the beginning of winter. It was also a time when spirits and fairy folk were active. They and the returning souls of the dead must be appeased. Bonfires were lit, feasts laid and futures told. Mummers, guisers and those seeking soul cakes went from house to house.
But the Protestant faith did away with the idea of Purgatory. Any practice associated with it was mere ‘Popish’ superstition. Any ghosts of the dead returning to visit the earth must be evil spirits, not the souls of loved ones. Fairies were to be feared.
Hallowmas – the Solemnity of All Saints & Puritan prayers
All Hallows Day or Hallowmas fell on the 1st of November. In 17th Century Britain and its colonies, officially, Protestant prayers and the festival of All Saints Day, the Solemnity of All Saints, replaced this feast day. It began with Vespers the evening before.
The day is a solemn celebration in prayer of Christ’s victory over death. By extension, it also commemorates all true Christians, past and present. The names of congregation members that have departed within the last year are read out and a bell tolled.
All Souls – tindles & proffering a light to the Devil
Throughout the Catholic world, the 2nd of November remains All Souls Day. It is a celebration and commemoration of all those who have attained a place in Heaven. Families visit cemeteries and the graves of loved ones, bless and decorate them with flowers, candles and offerings.
In the 17th Century, at Hallowtide families across England also gathered in fields at night. They burned tindles of straw and chanted prayers for the souls of the departed. This ancient ritual of teen’lay was practiced on All Hallows Eve. Older versions probably also took place on All Souls Eve.
But many increasingly saw the old acts of faith at Hallowtide as dangerous superstitions. They were acts of sin that proffered a light to the Devil. They were invitations to Satan to enter homes and spread evil. As such, they endangered all. For sin was contagious.
God’s Vindictive Wrath – FREE historical fiction book Sample
Please do read the following two chapters from God’s Vindictive Wrath, a novel set during the English Civil War. I hope you will appreciate the different perspectives on death and the afterlife as the characters struggle to come to terms with the terrible reality of the Battle of Edgehill at Hallowtide 1642.
I hope you will enjoy them.
Read More About Early Modern Life – Britain, Europe & Americas
I hope you enjoy this 17th Century Hallowtide extract. If you want more, you can read the opening chapters of God’s Vindictive Wrath for free on this website. Alternatively, try the short story at FREE eBook. I hope you will enjoy both.
You may also like some of the website posts on Early Modern Britain. These include a monthly blog post on the 17th Century Almanac. This explains Early Modern farming practices and beliefs, month by month, as a backdrop to the British Civil Wars. If you would like to receive an email notification of the next post, click the button to follow.
In the meantime, this website includes more posts and articles about life in 17th Century Britain, Europe and the Americas at Historical Notes and Maps. These include notes and pages on the impact of the Little Ice Age and The General Crisis of the 17th Century. They include articles on the English Revolution and Great Rebellion. They also include Pike and Shot Warfare and battles of the English Civil War, from the Battle of Edgehill onwards.
You can also find more posts on Early Modern history, Living History and re-enactment at News & Events. You may also wish to read about the English Civil War history talks and battlefield walks I give.
Divided Kingdom – English Civil War historical fiction
The 17th Century Almanac blog posts provide a backdrop and set the scene for the Divided Kingdom books. This historical fiction series is set in Early Modern Britain during the English Civil War. These posts are part of their backstory.
The Divided Kingdom books take a fresh approach. They are not based on a single hero. They do not take sides. Their voices – ordinary men and women – face each other in the chaos of Britain in civil war. They are both relatable and sharply relevant today. They are also as historically accurate as is possible.
Please do check out some of the writing at Divided Kingdom Books, including book tasters and a FREE ebook short story.
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