Soul Cakes - A November Family Faith Tradition

November 1st & 2nd: The Feasts of All Saints & All Souls

Since the beginnings of Christianity, November has been a time to remember and honor those of our Bible Family and Church Family who are already in heaven with God. By retelling their stories, they remain alive in our hearts .

One ancient tradition is the Soul Cake. It is where the modern day term “Soul Food” originated.

Small cakes are prepared and decorated with symbols that represent famous saints, local heroes, or beloved family members who have died. The cakes’ sweetness represents the joys of heaven. Families would eat the cakes at a special meal and often shared them with the poor. In Mexico, Nov. 2nd is a big family fiesta called the Day of the Dead. In England, on All Soul’s Day, children would travel from house to house, like beggars, asking for a Soul Cake treat and chanting this rhyme:

Soul! Soul! For a Soul Cake!
I pray, good missis, a Soul Cake!
An apple, a pear, a plum or a cherry,
Any good thing to make us merry.
One for Peter, one for Paul,
Three for Him who made us all!
Up with the kettle and down with the pan,
Give us good alms and we’ll be gone!
Soul! Soul! For a Soul Cake!
Soul! Soul! For a Soul Cake!

Directions: Prepare some cupcakes. Decorate each cupcake with the symbol of a saint, or create symbols to represent family or friends who are in heaven with God. Gather the family, share the blessing prayer below, and Enjoy!

Soul Cake Blessing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Through the death and resurrection of your Son, Jesus,
and the waters of Baptism, you have made us all your children.
Bless these Soul Cakes that we share today.
Let them remind us of our family and friends
who are already with You in heaven.
May their sweetness be a taste of the heavenly joys
that we will one day share together.
We ask this in the Name of Jesus, your Son. Amen.