Days of the dead

The last day in October and the first days in November are the days of the dead in Europe, since more than two thousand years. The traditions have changed over the centuries, and even during the last years. What used to be silent days, families visiting the graves of their ancestors, bringing flowers and candles that burn for days and nights, and praying for their loved ones, changed into party time at Halloween.
Even in Berlin children were given sweets in the shops yesterday ("trick or treat?"), a custom that used to be done in Germany around November 10th when I was a kid, on "Martinstag". Those were the days, and the old customs vanish.
Today, I thought of my dear tomcat Gustav, who died on October 18th, and was cremated last Monday. His ashes were brought in the evening. In a plastic box! Times have changed for sure.