On Friday (All Saints' Eve) it was still too windy in my opinion to find it worth while to go and make any attempt to light candles in the cemetery. So I put that off until Saturday afternoon; which was calm and sunny, but almost wintry cold.
Not a lot of leaves left on the trees after the stormy days earlier in the week - but in some places, the sun did its best to highlight what was still there.
In the background behind those golden leaves above is the cemetery chapel - which is also kept open on this day, so that people can go inside and light candles, or search for names in the registry book (of people who had their ashes scattered in the memorial grove outside), or just sit and meditate for a while.
Family grave from my mum's side of the family (her grandparents). Someone had already lit two candles there - probably the day before, as both of them had obviously got blown out by the wind very soon after being lit... I lit those again, and added two of my own.
(Today I passed by there again, and then all four candles had burned half way down but had then been extinguised by wind or rain. I lit them again and hopefully they burned for a few hours more.)
At home, I struggled to wrap my balcony bench "properly" (legs and all) in its winter covering (a plastic tarpaulin); and put it back out again, with the strawberry box hibernating underneath, inside the "tent"...
It has worked every winter before, so hopefully it will work again. (I'll be keeping an extra eye on it if we get more storm warnings, though...)
The interior mural is rather elegant
ReplyDeleteI like that mural too, Ro.
DeleteThe inside of the cemetery chapel is stunning! With the wall art and beautiful blue chairs. Is that sand that the candles are sitting on?
ReplyDeleteYes Ginny, it is a kind of tray filled with sand.
DeleteI hope you have seen the last storm this season and also the same hope for us. we are watching the one down where Helene and Milton came from and THEY say is should break up and bring only rain. I pray for that. will you put anything on top of the wrapped box? I agree with Ginny, the inside of the church is gorgeous and it looks so peaceful and full of joy
ReplyDeleteSandra, as usual I wrapped the box of strawberry plants in fiber cloth; then put it in under the bench, which in turn is wrapped in a tarpaulin held together by straps and strings and duct tape. The flower box stands on the bottom part of the tarpaulin, and thereby it also adds weight to the whole "package". In winter I don't keep anything on top of the bench, but I can sit out there for a short while on a sunny afternoon if I like!
DeleteLighting candles in a cemetery is not really done here but I really like the idea, I've never thought of doing it before.
ReplyDeleteAmy, for this weekend it is a tradition I've known all my life, and I think it has just kept increasing. Living close to a cemetery now, I also see it done all year round on some graves, and escpecially in the winter months.
DeleteThe few golden leaves left on the tree look like decorations hung there on purpose. I like the inside of the chapel, it is warm, friendly and welcoming; must be soothing to the grieving.
ReplyDeleteMeike, yes, I like that chapel, too. I've only seen the inside a few times, in connection with this weekend. There was no one else in there when I entered so I felt free to take photos :)
DeleteI love the simple elegance of Swedish churches. Here All Saint's day is known as the Day of the Dead, when families visit the graves of their loved ones. They traditionally take beautiful bouquets of flowers.
ReplyDeleteYou still have quite a few leaves left on some of the trees - and it's November!