Mrs. Wilson

All Saints’ Day, celebrated on November 1st, is a revered Christian observance dedicated to honoring the lives and legacies of all Saints and martyrs, known and unknown. This solemn yet uplifting occasion invites believers to reflect on the virtues and sacrifices of those who have attained sanctity, serving as enduring examples of faith and devotion. Rooted in early Christian tradition, All Saints’ Day transcends denominational boundaries and is observed with unique customs and liturgical practices around the world. From candlelit vigils to special church services, the day serves as a  poignant reminder of the spiritual connection between the living and the departed and encourages the faithful to aspire towards Holiness in their own lives.

Many Catholic schools celebrate this holiday by having some of their students dress up as a Saint of their choosing. St. Robert is one of these schools, and the second graders get a week to choose their saint and a month to get an outfit. Kay is one of these second graders at St. Robert who mentioned she enjoyed the process and “getting dressed up as it was the best part [of the celebration].” The experience is something to enjoy for these second graders and can also shape their faith even though finding these outfits can be challenging.  Mrs. Wilson, the teacher of Kay, said that “the best part is that the kids get to choose their own Saint and be creative with their costumes.”

Choosing a Saint can be challenging for a lot of these kids though. Alton, another student of Mrs. Wilson, mentioned that he didn’t get his first pick of a Saint, but he was still happy with the one he was assigned in the end. Alton studied and dressed up as St. Carlo Acutis, and he chose Carlo “because he was from 2025 and I just was excited because his feast day was close to my birthday.” The students chose their specific Saint for various reasons, including the date of feast days, the Saint’s name, or a sibling having the Saint in the past, and many more. Kay was St. Monica and her sister was St. Monica in a previous year, which inspired Kay to make the same selection. Mrs. Wilson explained that she has never had a student turn down their assigned Saint, for “ if more than one person chooses the Saint they might not get their first choice, but they also get one of their top four.” These kids get  to propose four Saints and almost all of the time they get their top choice of Saint.

Choosing a Saint isn’t the hardest part of the whole All Saints Day process. Finding the costumes is difficult since the clothes that many of these Saints wore when they were alive aren’t very popular today. Mrs. Wilson also states that the second graders had around a month to find their outfits. Some students, like Kay, didn’t have any trouble with an outfit, but other students, like Alton, had some more struggles. As mentioned, Kay was the same Saint as her sister, so her family had previously acquired the costume. Opposite of that, Alton struggled with having to find “white and blue jeans, a red and blue sweatshirt, and we had to find an undershirt.” Fortunately, with a month of time, all of the St. Robert second graders managed to get an outfit in time. Mrs. Wilson even said that she gives donated costumes to kids without anything.

This special day offers an opportunity for reflections, spiritual growth, and community celebration.  Kids dress up as their favorite Saint and are transformed into vibrant displays of creativity and reverence. This tradition not only fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Saints virtues but also encourages children to embody these qualities in their own lives. By engaging in this joyful practice children connect with the rich tapestry of their faith carrying towards the legacy of these revered figures in a way that is both educational and inspiring.