TV Shows Similar to Game of Thrones and the Squid Game

Kit Harrington on Game of Thrones-HBO Max

In my previous posting about a few weeks ago, I mentioned that I started watching again, the TV series Game of Thrones on HBO Max. Today I finished the 8 Seasons and it solidified my opinion and agreed with most of the critics that GOT is the best TV series of all Time. It has everything entertaining( murder, sex, violence, treason, epic battles, dragons and nudity ) and the several minor story lines( besides the 3 major story lines) that are complex, intriguing with a lot of  dramatic twists and an ending most viewers did not expect or like.

I also mentioned the new Netflix TV Series- Squid Game from Korea- the most popular and widely viewed series on Netflix currently.   I enjoyed very much both series and both series have unpopular endings. Because I love both Series, I searched for TV series similar to GOT and Squid Game. Today, I learned that Season 2 of Squid Game have been approved.

Here's a summary of TV Shows similar to Game of Thrones.  

In this list I have watched all the shows on Netflix, Hulu, Showtime and HBO Max. I have not seen the Series on Apple TV+ and Starz ( except Outlander).

Foundation

Lou Llobell, Foundation

Apple TV+

What if Game of Thrones... but in space? That's kind of what Apple TV+'s Foundation is going for, with its bottomless budget and the incredibly rich universes it inhabits. The sci-fi series follows an autocratic regime that decides a mathematician's warning that the empire is about to fall and send mankind into a period of dark ages is scientific nonsense, so it's ignored by banishing the mathematician and his believers to the outer reaches of the universe. With a variety of biomes, intricate politics, and fantastic fashion, Foundation will remind you a lot of your favorite fantasy show. [Watch on Apple TV+]

Outlander

Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan, Outlander

Jason Bell/Starz

Depending on who you ask, Outlander is either the sexiest show on TV, or it's a historical drama with a touch of sci-fi. Or maybe it's both! Based on the book series by Diana Gabaldon, Outlander revolves around Claire (Caitriona Balfe), a married World War II nurse who, after mysteriously time traveling back to 1743, falls in love with Jamie (Sam Heughan), a young Scottish warrior. You should know upfront that it definitely lacks the near-constant thrill that Game of Thrones brought (there are way less expensive battle scenes, is what I'm saying), but if you're looking for something that will give you an occasionally accurate history lesson and get you invested in a sweeping romance that spans centuries, Outlander is the show for you. [Watch on Netflix]
Black Sails

Black Sails

Starz

Black Sails is about pirates, but not the fun, rum-drinking Pirates of the Caribbean kind: These are gritty pirates. A prequel to Treasure Island, Black Sails is set in the early 1700s and revolves around Captain Flint's (Toby Stephens) debaucherous life as the leader of a band of swashbucklers. He brings on Long John Silver (Luke Arnold) as a member of his crew, and together, they engage in a sprawling battle for New Providence Island. Black Sails has often been compared to Game of Thrones, and even though it's not a fantasy, there are plenty of elements about this show that fans will recognize and enjoy: its period setting, its excellent characters, its engaging storytelling and world-building, and some beautifully shot battle scenes. (And some gratuitous nudity.) Also, if it helps, the ending wasn't anywhere near as divisive. [Watch on Starz]
Spartacus

Andy Whitfield, Spartacus: Blood and Sand

Starz

If what you're really looking for in your post-Game of Thrones watching life is just people battling each other, look no further than Spartacus. This show, set in the 72 B.C. era Roman Empire, is about gladiators, which means it has blood and violence to spare. It has everything you're probably looking for: brutal fighting, betrayal, sex and nudity (seriously, when the characters on this show aren't trying to maim each other, there's a good chance it's because they're too busy having sex), and gore that's as exciting to look at as it is absolutely disgusting. [Watch on Starz]

The Borgias

Gina McKee and François Arnaud, The Borgias

Showtime

For anyone whose favorite part of Game of Thrones was the twisted family dynamics, meet The Borgias. The show, set in Renaissance-era Italy, follows the ruthless and scandalous Borgia family who are willing to do just about anything to maintain their power. When the show begins, Rodrigo (Jeremy Irons) has just become Pope Alexander VI by using nefarious tactics, which is probably the least insane thing that happens throughout its three seasons. This show has a healthy amount of blood and violence, but the things that makes this show most compelling are the characters and the ways they interact with each other. The Borgias is not at all afraid to shy away from incest, so Game of Thrones fans should feel right at home. [Watch on Netflix]

Rome

Ciaran Hinds, Rome

HBO

It's hard to remember a time before Game of Thrones, but I promise it once existed. In fact, back in 2005, HBO made Rome, a highly underrated drama set amid ancient Rome's transition from republic to empire. It's a short watch (only two seasons!) that has basically everything you're probably looking for: rival families trapped in power struggles with each other, well-choreographed fight scenes, intriguing characters, and more. Plenty of shows wish they could be the next Game of Thrones, but Rome was Game of Thrones before Game of Thrones even existed. [Watch on HBO Max]
  The Witcher

Henry Cavill, The Witcher

Katalin Vermes/Netflix

The Witcher, which is based on Andrzej Sapkowski's book series, stars Henry Cavill as monster hunter Geralt of Rivia, a witcher whose destiny becomes bound to the sorceress Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) and the powerful princess Ciri (Freya Allan). In case it wasn't already clear, this is a fantasy show, dealing with magic, knights, and terrifying monsters. There's been a lot of debate about whether or not The Witcher is trying to come up in Game of Thrones' image, and the comparisons are obvious, but this show isn't Netflix's attempt at a carbon copy. It's much more fantastical and centers around a smaller group of characters, leaning more into the "fulfilling your destiny" of it all. You will definitely walk away with the "Toss a Coin to Your Witcher" song stuck in your head. [Watch on Netflix]

The Tudors

Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Natalie Dormer, The Tudors

Showtime

The real draw here is Natalie Dormer, who, a few years before donning Margaery Tyrell's curly wig, played Anne Boleyn on The Tudors. Showtime's historical drama is set during King Henry VIII's (played here by Jonathan Rhys Meyers) tenure, touching on everything from his political struggles to his many wives, which is arguably what he's most famous for. If you already know the story of King Henry, there's not much here that will surprise you, but it's still a great drama with a strong cast that's a must-watch for anyone who loved the royal family stuff in Game of Thrones. [Watch on Showtime]

The Last Kingdom

Alexander Dreymon and Emily Cox, The Last Kingdom

Joss Barratt/Netflix

Set in 866, The Last Kingdom tells the story of Uhtred of Bebbanburg (Alexander Dreymon), a Saxon warrior raised from childhood as a Viking after Vikings invaded his home. The show is a great mix of politics, family, and war, and it's adrenaline-pumping in all the right ways. If you were disappointed by Daenerys' messy descent into Game of Thrones' designated villain, The Last Kingdom kind of makes up for that with Brida's (Emily Cox) own dark journey, which feels more warranted thanks to the way the show fleshes it out over several seasons. [Watch on Netflix]

Vikings

Vikings

Jonathan Hession/History

Speaking of Vikings, have you checked out Vikings? Originally following the story of Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel), a Viking farmer who went on to become one of the most infamous Vikings in history, the drama is based on actual events and later transitions to focus more on his sons, including Ivar the Boneless (Alex Høgh) and Bjorn Ironside (Alexander Ludwig). Like Game of Thrones, Vikings is an epic that spans many years, and delights in exploring power struggles, how leaders fall, and family politics. It's the historical drama you've been looking for. Especially if you like a massive, big-budget battle once or twice a season. [Watch on Hulu, Peacock, Amazon Prime Video]

For Shows similar to the Squid Game:

https://www.tvguide.com/news/8-shows-and-movies-like-squid-game-netflix/

 

 

Some of My Favorite and Positive Quotes on Aging

A couple of years ago, there were several articles of what to do to slow down the aging process. But a recent study ( June, 2021 reported by the Guardian) suggests that stopping or even reversing the aging process is impossible. In a collaborative effort from scientists worldwide, including experts from the University of Oxford, it was concluded that aging is inevitable due to biological constraints.

With this mind I agree with the above statement that Aging is just Another word for Living.  If you are a Senior, I hope you are aging gracefully.

My 87th Birthday( next month) is getting near; I am reminded of the articles I have posted in my blogs about aging. My favorites quotes are in block.

https://marinduquemyislandparadise.blogspot.com/search?q=aging

Today, I am posting some of my favorite quotes on aging.  These are all positive quotes from the famous both living and dead!

 “The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes.”  ~ Frank Lloyd Wright

• “There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” ~Sophia Loren

• “In the central place of every heart there is a recording chamber.  So long as it receives a message of beauty, hope, cheer, and courage – so long are you young.  When the wires are all down and our heart is covered with the snow of pessimism and the ice of cynicism, then, and only then, are you grown old.”  ~Douglas MacArthur

• “For the unlearned, old age is winter; for the learned, it is the season of the harvest.”   ~Hasidic saying

• “Every year should teach you something valuable; whether you get the lesson is up to you. Every year brings you closer to expressing your whole and healed self.”   ~Oprah Winfrey

• “One of the reasons people get old—lose their aliveness—is that they get weighed down by all of their stuff.” ~Richard Leider

• “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” ~Mark Twain

• “I suppose real old age begins when one looks backward rather than forward.” ~ Mary Sarton

• “Of all the self-fulfilling prophecies in our culture the assumption that aging means decline and poor health is probably the deadliest.” ~ Marilyn Ferguson

• “Age is no barrier. It’s a limitation you put on your mind.” ~Jackie Joyner-Kersee

• “Your 40s are good.  Your 50s are great.  Your 60s are fab.  And 70 is f*@king awesome!”  ~Helen Mirren

• “Know that you are the perfect age. Each year is special and precious, for you shall only live it once. Be comfortable with growing older.”  ~Louise Hay

• “Oh, the worst of all tragedies is not to die young, but to live until I am seventy-five and yet not ever truly to have lived.” ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

• “You don’t stop laughing when you grow old, you grow old when you stop laughing.” ~George Bernard Shaw

• “I believe the second half of one’s life is meant to be better than the first half. The first half is finding out how you do it. And the second half is enjoying it.”  ~Frances Lear

• “We are not victims of aging, sickness, and death. These are part of scenery, not the seer, who is immune to any form of change. This seer is the spirit, the expression of eternal being.”  ~Deepak Chopra

• “Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.” ~Franz Kafka

• “To find joy in work is to discover the fountain of youth.” ~Pearl S. Buck

• “The trouble is, when a number—your age—becomes your identity, you’ve given away your power to choose your future.”  ~Richard J. Leider

• “It annoys me when people say, ‘Even if you’re old, you can be young at heart!’ Hiding inside this well-meaning phrase is a deep cultural assumption that old is bad and young is good. What’s wrong with being old at heart, I’d like to know? Wouldn’t you like to be loved by people whose hearts have practiced loving for a long time?”  ~Susan Moon

• “I’ve always said that I will never let an old person into my body. That is, I don’t believe in ‘thinking’ old. Don’t program yourself to break down as you age with thoughts that decline is inevitable.”  ~Wayne Dyer

• “Those who love deeply never grow old; they may die of old age, but they die young.”  ~Ben Franklin

• “Old age is an excellent time for outrage. My goal is to say or do at least one outrageous thing every week.” ~Maggie Kuhn

• “A human being would certainly not grow to be 70 or 80 years old if this longevity had no meaning for the species to which he belongs. The afternoon of human life must also have a significance of its own and cannot be merely a pitiful appendage to life’s morning.”  ~Carl Jung

• “The belief that youth is the happiest time of life is founded on a fallacy. The happiest person is the person who thinks the most interesting thoughts and we grow happier as we grow older.” ~William Lyon Phelps

• “Getting old is like climbing a mountain; you get a little out of breath, but the view is much better!”  ~Ingrid Bergman

• “If you associate enough with older people who do enjoy their lives, who are not stored away in any golden ghettos, you will gain a sense of continuity and of the possibility for a full life.” ~ Margaret Mead

• “When it comes to staying young, a mind-lift beats a face-lift any day.” ~Marty Buccella

• “My physical body may be less efficient and less beautiful in old age. But God has given me an enormous compensation: my mind is richer my Soul is broader and my wisdom is at a peak. I am so happy with the riches of my advanced peak age that, contrary to Faust, I would not wish to return to youth.”   ~Robert Muller

• “None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.”  ~Henry David Thoreau

• “Elderly people are like plants.  Whereas some go to seed, or to pot, others blossom in the most wonderful ways.  I believe beauty competitions should be held only for people over seventy years of age.  When we are young, we have the face and figure God gave us.  We did nothing to earn our good looks.  But as we get older, character becomes etched on our face.  Beautiful old people are works of art. Like a white candle in a holy place, so it the beauty of an aged face.”  ~James Simpson

• “I’m baffled that anyone might not think women get more beautiful as they get older. Confidence comes with age, and looking beautiful comes from the confidence someone has in themselves.” ~Kate Winslet

• “The wiser mind mourns less for what age takes away than what it leaves behind.” ~ William Wordsworth

• “Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be.” ~Robert Browning

• “Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength.” ~Betty Friedan

• “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.” ~Henry Ford

• “You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old.” ~ George Burns

• “Here’s what I know: I’m a better person at fifty than I was at forty-eight … and better at fifty-two than I was at fifty. I’m calmer, easier to live with. All this stuff is in my soul forever. Just don’t get lazy. Work at your relationships all the time. Take care of friendships, hold people you love close to you, take advantage of birthdays to celebrate fiercely. It’s the worrying — not the years themselves — that will make you less of a woman.” ~Patti LaBelle,

• “Relish love in our old age! Aged love is like aged wine; it becomes more satisfying, more refreshing, more valuable, more appreciated and more intoxicating.” ~Leo Buscaglia

• “Getting old is a fascination thing. The older you get, the older you want to get.” ~Keith Richards

• “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count.  It’s the life in your years.”  ~Abraham Lincoln

• “There is also this pressure in Hollywood to be ageless. I think what I have been witness to is seeing women trying to stay ageless with what they are doing to themselves. I am grateful to learn from their mistakes, because I am not injecting shit into my face. I see them and my heart breaks. I think, ‘Oh, God, if you only knew how much older you look.’ They’re trying to stop the clock, and all you can see is an insecure person who won’t let themselves just age.”   ~Jennifer Aniston

• “Count your age by friends, not years.  Count your life by smiles, not tears.  ~John Lennon

• “I am appalled that the term we use to talk about aging is ‘anti.’ Aging is as natural as a baby’s softness and scent. Aging is human evolution in its pure form.”~ Jamie Lee Curtis

• “Do not grow old, no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the great mystery into which we were born.”   ~Albert Einstein

• “Aging isn’t about getting old it’s about LIVING… Learning that you can age well, will actually help you to age better… let’s start celebrating and living an engaged life, and stop punishing ourselves for not looking a certain way, and instead holding ourselves accountable for actually taking care of ourselves inside first, knowing the results on the exterior will be a shining side effect.”  ~ Cameron Diaz

• “In spite of illness, in spite even of the archenemy sorrow, one can remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable in intellectual curiosity, interested in big things, and happy in small ways.”  ~Edith Wharton

• “I have absolutely no objection to growing older. I am a stroke survivor so I am extremely grateful to be aging – I have nothing but gratitude for the passing years. I am aging – lucky, lucky me!” ~ Sharon Stone

• “It’s like you trade the virility of the body for the agility of the spirit.”  – Elizabeth Lesser

• “I love living. I love that I’m alive to love my age. There are many people who went to bed just as I did yesterday evening and didn’t wake this morning. I love and feel very blessed that I did.”   ~Maya Angelou

• “Aging happy and well, instead of sad and sick, is at least under some personal control. We have considerable control over our weight, our exercise, our education, and our abuse of cigarettes and alcohol. With hard work and/or therapy, our relationships with our spouses and our coping styles can be changed for the better. A successful old age may lie not so much in our stars and genes as in ourselves.” ~George E. Vaillant

• “I don’t believe in aging.  I believe in forever altering one’s aspect to the sun.”  ~ Virginia Woolf

• “With age comes the inner, the higher life. Who would be forever young, to dwell always in externals?”   ~Elizabeth Cady Stanton

• “The great thing about getting older is that you become more mellow. Things aren’t as black and white, and you become much more tolerant. You can see the good in things much more easily rather than getting enraged as you used to do when you were young.”    ~Maeve Binchy

• “We don’t grow older, we grow riper.” ~Pablo Picasso

Do you have a favorite? I will be happy to hear from you!

Source:  https://www.smartliving365.com/50-best-positive-aging-quotes-find/

 

 

The Wedding of My Oldest Grandson -Ian King

The 4D's -Ditas, Dodie, David and Dinah-in front of the Chapel

The 3D's( Ditas, Dodie and David E) and Me before the Wedding Ceremony

Yesterday was Ian and Sara's wedding day. Ian is my oldest grandson. He is the son of my oldest daughter Dinah. The wedding was held in Rocklin, CA at a small Victorian Chapel. The theme of the wedding is about cowboys.  It is another stage of my aging years and looking forward for a great grand child soon. Here are some photos of the occasion.   

Alex and Elaine Chalfin with two Kids-Samantha and Wesley in front of the Chapel

 The Old St Mary's Chapel, 5251 Front Street, Rocklin, CA 95677

Our Table at the Wedding Reception in Loomis, California

Ian and Sara Invitation for November 6, 2021-The Wedding Day

 

 

My Cacti and Succulents Collections-Winter is Coming

 

Indoor Plants in My Bedroom-Christmas Cactus starting to Bloom

 

Winter is Coming-Famous sentence from the Best TV series of all Time-Game of Thrones. Last week and the next couple of weeks I am binging on the TV Series Games of Thrones. There are 8 seasons and currently I am only in Season 4. I am indeed enjoying it as I have forgotten a lot of minor dramatic scenes that makes the series the best TV series of all time. 

 

Today most of my cacti and succulent plant collections are going indoors for Winter is Coming!
 

 

The other day, I transferred most of my cacti and succulent collections inside the house along with my other indoor plants. Cacti and succulents hate a lot of water. The recent torrential rains damaged some of my cactus that I forgot outside. Here are some photos of my current indoor plants and their location in the house.    

 

My Picture Window in the Living Room

In the Family Room

My Kitchen Picture Window Overlooking the Empty Swimming Pool

My Indoor Plants in My Master Bedroom Bathroom Window
 

 My Outdoor Potted Cacti and Succulents in Our Covered Patio-will be left Outside

Pineapple with Fruit, and Succulents in Front Patio Protected from the Winds

 

My Lemons are not very Productive This Year

My Potted Avocado Plant Outside

My Pyracanta Shrub with Berries adding Fall Colors in My Side Yard

 

 My Potted Ampalaya on its last Breathe of Growing-until next Spring

 

Speaking of houseplants, Do you know that its popularity had increased during the Pandemic?

 

In a recent survey of 990 people who had purchased houseplants since March 2020, 12% were first-time plant buyers. People had various reasons for buying greenery since the pandemic. Some people did it because now they had more time on their hands; others said garden stores were some of the few places open.Sep 10, 2020

Houseplant Popularity Has Bloomed During The Pandemic

https://www.treehugger.com › News › Home & Design

With everybody being at home more than usual this year, houseplants have really been seeing an increase in popularity. ... Houseplants have also been shown to clean the air in your home, and if you needed more benefits, they are a great option to freshen up the design of an outdated room.

 My Christmas Cactus in the Bedroom Sliding Door Blooming Early

Enjoying Again the Best TV Series of All Time-Game of Thrones

For some reasons I can not explained , I wanted and had an urging to watch Games of Thrones again this week. I have enjoyed all the eight seasons of this TV series on HBO two years ago. 

HOWEVER, watching Season 1 this week was just as enjoyable if not more  as the first time. I have forgotten a lot of the dramatic details ( side stories) of this series, so watching this show again was more fun and entertaining as the first time. 

Many critics and publications have named the show as one of the best television series of all time. In case you have not heard of this TV series here's a brief summary from Wikipedia.

Game of Thrones is an American fantasy drama television series created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss for HBO. It is an adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire, a series of fantasy novels by George R. R. Martin, the first of which is A Game of Thrones. The show was shot in the United Kingdom, Canada, Croatia, Iceland, Malta, Morocco, and Spain. It premiered on HBO in the United States on April 17, 2011, and concluded on May 19, 2019, with 73 episodes broadcast over eight seasons.

Set on the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos, Game of Thrones has a large ensemble cast and follows several story arcs throughout the course of the show. The first major arc concerns the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros through a web of political conflicts among the noble families either vying to claim the throne or fighting for independence from whoever sits on it.

A second focuses on the last descendant of the realm's deposed ruling dynasty, who has been exiled to Essos and is plotting to return and reclaim the throne.

The third follows the Night's Watch, a military order defending the realm against threats from beyond Westeros's northern border.

Game of Thrones attracted a record viewership on HBO and has a broad, active, and international fan base. Critics have praised the series for its acting, complex characters, story, scope, and production values, although its frequent use of nudity and violence (including sexual violence) has been subject to criticism.

The final season received significant critical backlash for its reduced length and creative decisions, with many considering it a disappointing conclusion. The series received 59 Primetime Emmy Awards, the most by a drama series, including Outstanding Drama Series in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019. Its other awards and nominations include three Hugo Awards for Best Dramatic Presentation, a Peabody Award, and five nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama.

Game of Thrones has won numerous awards throughout its run, including 59 Emmy Awards, eight Screen Actors Guild Awards and a Peabody Award. It holds the record for total Emmy Award wins for a scripted television series (surpassing the record of 37 wins held by Frasier since 2004) and for most Emmy nominations for a drama series, with 161. In 2019, the show's final season established a new record for most Emmy nominations received in a year with 32, breaking the 25-year-long record of 26 nominations established by NYPD Blue in 1994.

In 2013 the Writers Guild of America listed Game of Thrones as the 40th best written series in television history. In 2015 The Hollywood Reporter placed it at number four on their best TV shows ever list, while in 2016 the series was placed seventh on Empire's "The 50 best TV shows ever". The same year Rolling Stone named it the twelfth "greatest TV Show of all time".

Merchandise and exhibition

HBO has licensed a variety of merchandise based on Game of Thrones, including games, replica weapons and armor, jewelry, bobblehead dolls by Funko, beer by Ommegang and apparel. High-end merchandise includes a $10,500 Ulysse Nardin wristwatch and a $30,000 resin replica of the Iron Throne. In 2013 and 2014, a traveling exhibition of costumes, props, armor and weapons from the series visited major cities in Europe and the Americas. Starting 2018, Diageo released several Game of Thrones themed whiskies.

For complete details visit:

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_of_Thrones

 

Remembering Macrine on Dia de los Muertos

Macrine's (RIP) favorite snacks and habit: Brie with Crackers, M & M candies(peanut butter) and Pistachio Nuts and Cigarettes

I was surprised today when I went outside. In our patio table was a placed setting with food and snacks and cigarettes and a candle, but no utensils. Since I did not do it, I concluded it must David III, my son who lives with me. After a few seconds I realized that the snacks were his Mom's (RIP) favorite snacks and of course the cigarette. The photo above I took for posterity. Its is David's way of remembering his Mom, and I respect it. I left the plates and the snacks, but later covered it, before the squirrels in our backyard discovered the food and snacks. Macrine, my Beloved, May your soul Rest in Peace, Amen.    

Meanwhile do you know the difference of these 3 consecutive days?(October 31, November 1 and November 2. 

What is the difference between All Saints Day, All Souls Day and Halloween?

Ghosts, symbolic of human souls roaming the earth, are an important part of Halloween tradition. The Christian concept of the importance of the human soul and its existence beyond death is at the heart of centuries of cultural traditions behind Halloween.

By Greg Garrison | ggarrison@al.com

Everybody knows the secular holiday of Halloween. But not everybody knows it derives from a holy day, All Saints’ Day on Nov. 1, which is followed by All Souls’ day on Nov. 2.

The root word of Halloween - ‘’hallow’' - means ‘’holy.’’ The suffix “een” is an abbreviation of “evening.” It refers to the Eve of All Hallows, the night before the Christian holy day that honors saintly people of the past.

“All Saints is a celebration of the communion of saints, those people we believe are in heaven,” said the Rev. Richard Donohoe, pastor of Our Lady Queen of the Universe Catholic Church in Birmingham.

All Souls’ Day is a day to pray for all souls. Among Catholics, prayers are offered for those in purgatory, waiting to get into heaven. On All Souls’ Day, Catholic churches have a Book of the Dead, in which parishioners have an opportunity to write the names of relatives to be remembered. 

Here's how Filipinos celebrate All Saints and All Souls Days.

The Philippines was a Spanish colony from the time of explorer Ferdinand Magellan in the 1500s up until the Philippine Revolution in 1898. While the Philippines is now under its own sovereign control, the ideas, customs, and traditions of the Spanish and the Roman Catholic church have been fully incorporated into Filipino society. One such tradition is the celebration of All Saints’ Day.

All Saints’ Day began in the Roman Catholic church as a way for people to honor their dead. In the Catholic tradition, recognized saints have their own memorial days such as St. Patrick’s Day and St. Valentine’s Day. However, regular people who died and were not canonized had no day for an observance. To provide a day where all saints could be recognized, remembered, and celebrated — including deceased family members that were not canonized — the Roman Catholic Church established All Saints’ Day. 

Today, in each country where Roman Catholicism is established, there are two days dedicated to celebrating deceased family members — November 1, known as All Saints’ Day, and November 2, All Souls’ Day.

Originally, November 1 was a somber day meant for church attendance and participating in prayer for loved ones. Prayer is especially important for family members believed to be in purgatory and are waiting to enter heaven. November 2 was traditionally the day for celebration. Today, Undas in the Philippines mixes both somber and celebratory traditions into both November 1 and 2. Since the Philippines was originally a Spanish colony, the holiday is celebrated similarly to the ways Mexico celebrates All Saints’ Day.- Dias de los Muertos.

History of the Day of the Dead

Photo Credit: YouTube