Spiritual, not spooky. After Halloween, Christians observe All Saints' Day

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — It's the time of year — tradition says — when the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is lifted.

That traditional belief has morphed over the centuries into the spooky and secular celebration of Halloween.

But on Friday, Christians in many countries around the world are celebrating All Saints' Day, a somber and spiritual day in the church's liturgical calendar that shares pagan roots with Halloween.

The word “Halloween” derives from “All Hallows Eve,” which means the eve of All Saints’ Day, a holiday that has also been known as All Hallows. It honors martyrs and saints — those who were hallowed, or deemed holy — a tradition begun by the Roman Catholic church in the early medieval period.

Scholars believe that the spectral aspects of Halloween emerged primarily from Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival that occurred during the harvest season, said Morgan Shipley, a professor of religious studies at Michigan State University in East Lansing.

It was a time when people were “transitioning from harvest and bounty and the fullness of summer to the desolation of winter,” he said. “And it was said that in this time the veil between the physical, material human world and the spiritual world essentially dissipates away.”

Some of the spirits or spectral beings were viewed as demonic in nature, and bonfires became a way to ward them away, or were used in divination by druid priests and priestesses when the veil between the material and spiritual world broke down, he said.

As Christianity spread, many pagan rituals were adapted to the new faith to be more attractive to converts. The period of reflecting on the dead continues though Nov. 2, which is All Souls’ Day.

In Central Europe, the Slavic and Baltic populations had their own rituals in which the living communed with the dead between Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.

Believers and non-believers alike in many traditionally Roman Catholic societies observe the day.

Finka Heynemann, 34, visited Warsaw's Brodno cemetery on Friday morning with her mother. The two had plans to visit six cemeteries in Warsaw over three days — even though they are not religious.

“It's just important to keep the tradition and visit the graves and to respect and honor ancestors,” Heynemann said.

“This day is more important than Christmas or Easter," added her mother, Maja Gąssowska, who paused to drop money in a collection box for a Polish cemetery in the Ukrainian city of Lviv, which was once part of Poland.

In Poland, many travel back to their family homes to gather with those still living and reflect on those who have left them.

So many people observe the holiday that cemeteries are transformed into flickering carpets of light so impressive that even the most secular cannot help but feel moved. Cities, including Warsaw and Krakow, run additional tram and bus lines to ferry the huge numbers to — and between — cemeteries.

While the reflections are mostly personal, people also leave candles at the graves of national heroes. So many people visit cemeteries at the same time that the celebration takes on a communal quality.

It has become so much part of the wider culture in Poland that people visit Orthodox Christian, Jewish and Muslim cemeteries as well.

In the Philippines, millions visited the tombs of their loved ones on Friday.

“Even if I’m old, I still visit the tombs of my relatives, especially my husband’s, during All Saints’ Day," said Manila resident Dory Oliquino, who was among thousands arriving with flowers and candles at the Manila North Cemetery in the country's capital. “As long as I can walk, I will visit him.”

Italians traditionally visit cemeteries to light candles or lay flowers to pay tribute to deceased family members on All Souls' Day, this year falling on Saturday. Pope Francis will visit Rome’s third-largest cemetery, the Laurentino Cemetery, to celebrate Mass and lead prayers for the dead. The pope visited the same cemetery in 2018, stopping to pray in an area dedicated to fetuses.

In recent years as the holiday approaches, there are discussions about Halloween and its compatibility with Christian beliefs in the afterlife.

Poles began to celebrate Halloween after the fall of communism in 1989, but some worry that the foreign cultural import could eventual dilute the tradition of All Saints' Day. Some Catholics worry that it also might be sinful due to allusions to devils and ghosts. Pushing back, some church groups have begun holding alternative events for All Saints’ Day.

This week, a church group organized the 3rd All Saints’ Ball in the Polish town of Plock, according to a Catholic news site, Niedziela — meaning Sunday — which reported that “the children came dressed as saints and blessed of the Catholic Church and as angels.”

Associated Press writers Colleen Barry in Milan and Basilio Sepe in Manila, Philippines, contributed to this report.

A woman walks between gravestones carrying flowers in the Almudena cemetery during All Saints Day, a Christian holiday to reflect on the saints and deceased relatives, Madrid, Spain, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Paul White)

A man lights a candle at a grave on All Saints' Day, a time for reflecting on those who have died, in Zakroczym near Warsaw, Polan, on Friday Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Candles burn in All Saints' Day, a time for reflecting on those who have died, on Friday Nov. 1, 2024, in Zakroczym near Warsaw, Poland. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Candles burn on All Saints' Day, a time for reflecting on those who have died, on Friday Nov. 1, 2024, in Zakroczym near Warsaw, Poland. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

People observe All Saints' Day, a time for reflecting on those who have died, on Friday Nov. 1, 2024, in Zakroczym near Warsaw, Poland. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

A woman stands in front of a grave in the Almudena cemetery during All Saints Day, a Catholic holiday to reflect on the saints and deceased relatives, Madrid, Spain, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Paul White)

A chrysanthemum is placed on a tombstone during All Saints Day, in Rome, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Cecilia Fabiano/LaPresse via AP)

A woman walks in a cemetery on the occasion of All Saints Day, in Rome, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Cecilia Fabiano/LaPresse via AP)

In this handout photo provided by the Malacanang Presidential Communications Office, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., left, and his mother former First Lady Imelda Marcos, right, pose as they visit the tomb of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos at the National Heroes Cemetery in Taguig City, Philippines on All Saints Day on Friday Nov. 1, 2024. (Malacanang Presidential Communications Office via AP)

People make their way at a crowded Manila's North Cemetery, Philippines as the nation observes All Saints Day on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Women place candles on the half-submerged tomb of family members at flood-prone Holy Spirit Memorial Park in Masantol, Pampanga province, Philippines after heavy rains from recent tropical storm Trami caused water to become higher than usual, ahead of All Saints Day, Thursday Oct. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

A man walks on top of submerged tombs at flood-prone Holy Spirit Memorial Park in Masantol, Pampanga province, Philippines after heavy rains from recent tropical storm Trami caused water levels to become higher than usual ahead of All Saints Day, Thursday Oct. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

People visit the tomb of family members at flood-prone Holy Spirit Memorial Park in Masantol, Pampanga province, Philippines after heavy rains from recent tropical storm Trami caused water levels to become higher than usual ahead of All Saints Day, Thursday Oct. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Tombs are submerged at flood-prone Holy Spirit Memorial Park in Masantol, Pampanga province, Philippines after heavy rains from recent tropical storm Trami caused water to become higher than usual, ahead of All Saints Day, Thursday Oct. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

People prepare for All Saints' Day at the cemetery in Zakroczym, near Warsaw, Poland, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

People prepare for All Saints' Day at the cemetery in Zakroczym, near Warsaw, Poland, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

People prepare for All Saints' Day at the cemetery in Zakroczym, near Warsaw, Poland, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

People prepare for All Saints' Day at the cemetery in Zakroczym, near Warsaw, Poland, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Women place candles on the half-submerged tomb of family members at flood-prone Holy Spirit Memorial Park in Masantol, Pampanga province, Philippines after heavy rains from recent tropical storm Trami caused water levels to become higher than usual ahead of All Saints Day, Thursday Oct. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Tombs are submerged at flood-prone Holy Spirit Memorial Park in Masantol, Pampanga province, Philippines after heavy rains from recent tropical storm Trami caused water to become higher than usual, ahead of All Saints Day, Thursday Oct. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

People visit apartment-type tombs of their departed loved ones in at a crowded Manila's North Cemetery, Philippines as the nation observes All Saints Day on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

People visit apartment-type tombs of their departed loved ones at Manila's North Cemetery, Philippines as the nation observes All Saints Day on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

A woman hands over a flower to her daughter as she climbs to reach the apartment-type tomb of their loved one at Manila's North Cemetery, Philippines as the nation observes All Saints Day on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

A family gathers in front of the tomb of their loved one at Manila's North Cemetery, Philippines as the nation observes All Saints Day on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

A family lights candles as they visit the tomb of their departed loved one at Manila's North Cemetery, Philippines as the nation observes All Saints Day on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

A man lights candles at the tomb of departed loved ones at Manila's North Cemetery, Philippines as the nation observes All Saints Day on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

A woman stands in between apartment-type tombs at Manila's North Cemetery, Philippines as the nation observes All Saints Day on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Gloria Obrado Baer lights candles at the tomb of her brother at Manila's North Cemetery, Philippines as the nation observes All Saints Day on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

NEW YORK (AP) — Heidi Klum and Janelle Monáe opted for out-of-this-world Halloween costumes this year — both choosing to dress as the stubby alien E.T. for their parties on opposite coasts.

While the similar costumes will likely spark “who wore it best” debates that are popular in celebrity magazines, the stars chose different interpretations of the creature from Steven Spielberg's 1982 classic, “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.”

Klum's husband Tom Kaulitz dressed as E.T., while the model and television personality came as E.T. similar to how the alien looked after being dressed up by Drew Barrymore's character in the movie, complete with a blonde wig and round hat. The costume featured animatronic eyes, a long neck, a blonde wig and a long index finger that lit up, just like the movie version.

Monáe opted for a stubbier version of the diminutive alien, waddling on the red carpet at her Halloween bash Thursday night. The Grammy winner's E.T. also had animatronic eyes and a yellow index finger but she adopted a stilted, otherwordly voice similar to the character's when doing interviews Thursday. She downplayed any rivalry with Klum, telling The Associated Press, “There can be two Hallo-queens. I love Heidi.”

Klum and Monáe take Halloween seriously, with each donning elaborate costumes. This year, their Halloween night parties played out on opposite coasts, with Klum gathering celebrity friends in New York and Monáe hosting her party in Los Angeles.

Klum’s face was in the creature’s neck, allowing her to see and speak. She told the AP her costume had been in the works for a year.

“I have been a fan of E.T. since I was 9 years old,” Klum said. As she spoke, the mouth of her costume head moved thanks to the mechanical features inside the suit.

“I just love becoming this thing. E.T. is very small and so I thought it would be fun to kind of play with the proportions too,” Klum said.

Klum and Kaulitz touched their heads tenderly after unveiling their costumes amid smoke and a light show at Klum’s party.

Monáe revealed her E.T. costume on Wednesday on “The Jennifer Hudson Show.” She also did an elaborate photo shoot posted on Instagram where she appeared riding a bike with E.T. in a basket on front, an homage to one of the most iconic moments of Spielberg's film.

Ambriz reported from Los Angeles.

Tom Kaulitz, left, and Heidi Klum attend Heidi Klum's 23rd annual Halloween party on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, at Hard Rock Hotel New York in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Tom Kaulitz, left, and Heidi Klum attend Heidi Klum's 23rd annual Halloween party on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, at Hard Rock Hotel New York in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Tom Kaulitz attends Heidi Klum's 23rd annual Halloween party on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, at Hard Rock Hotel New York in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Heidi Klum attends Heidi Klum's 23rd annual Halloween party on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, at Hard Rock Hotel New York in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Heidi Klum, left, and Leni Olumi Klum attend Heidi Klum's 23rd annual Halloween party on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, at Hard Rock Hotel New York in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Tom Kaulitz, left, and Heidi Klum attend Heidi Klum's 23rd annual Halloween party on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, at Hard Rock Hotel New York in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Heidi Klum attends Heidi Klum's 23rd annual Halloween party on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, at Hard Rock Hotel New York in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)