It looks like I need to clarify.
When I say "book of the dead" I don't mean necronomicon or any of the Evil Dead films. I mean the bound book that sits somewhere in the church during the month of November. Some people (perhaps just old ladies, and me...) go write names of dead people there in order to remember them or pray for their souls in purgatory.
I did a little research on the internet, and of course, became very afraid. Good information on Roman Catholic traditions is just so hard to find! You have to wade through all this stuff about Catholics as scary cult people, and lots of school projects on los Dias de Muertos.
Of course, this could be another of those crazy traditions that I do, but no one else cares about (like Belsnickle). Oh well.
Posted by Julie Young at November 3, 2003 11:36 PMYou do realize you're not getting away without describing Belsnickle...?
Posted by: Donna R. Hibbs at November 4, 2003 09:42 AMThank you Donna. My thoughts exactly.
That, and "hey! Don't diss on the Evil Dead."
- Star
Posted by: Sarcasmo at November 4, 2003 11:35 AMJulie, I'm Lutheran, and we do something quite similar. Since this past Sunday was All Saints Sunday, we prayed for members of our congregation, and family members of those in our congregation, that have died in the past year. There's a little insert (typically not quite "little") in the bulletin that lists all the names. (As a Lutheran, I don't believe in purgatory; however, we still pray for the souls of those who have died.)
It's a nice tradition, if you ask me. I think it's important. But, like you said, it's difficult to imagine anyone but a few devouts and old ladies writing names to be prayed for.
Posted by: KarissaKilgore at November 4, 2003 12:10 PMOhhhh! I understand now. Thanks for responding to my confusedness. hehehe
Posted by: Amanda at November 4, 2003 02:12 PM