Around All Saints’ Day (November 1), people traditionally remember their dead. The holiday is associated with numerous customs, often different from region to region. However, in its original meaning, All Souls Day on 2 November is the day to commemorate the dead, which has lost popularity in Central Europe. Kathpress has summarized what All Saints Day and Souls Day are all about.
What is celebrated on All Saints Day?
On November 1, the Catholic Church remembers all those who led “holy” lives. Saints in the narrowest sense are people who are respected for their truly Christian and exemplary lives and who are officially canonized as a result. However, we should also expressly remember those saints who are not well known and do not have their own holidays.
All Saints’ Day also reminds us that, according to the teachings of the Church, all believers are called to holiness. Accordingly, in addition to those who were officially canonized, many other deceased people can also be revered as saints. Ultimately this was a tradition of remembering all the dead, even though Name Day is a day of remembrance for the dead.
Halloween against thought
On the eve of All Saints’ Day, October 31, “Oíche Halloween” (from “All Hallows Eve”) is celebrated in the United States and many countries in Europe. In its current form, which came back from North America, it has adopted a very commercialized and secularized form, which has been repeatedly criticized by the church.
Since 2005, the “Night of 1,000 Lights” has also been held throughout Austria on the day before All Saints’ Day, where church areas are lit up by candlelight. The Catholic Youth in Tyrol developed the contemplative spirit of the holidays. As an alternative, more and more parishes are inviting people to a “Santosanti” celebration on October 31, where children dress up as saints.
All Souls Day: Commemoration of the deceased
On All Day, November 2, all those who have died are remembered. The roots of this festival go back to the year 998, when the French Benedictine abbot of the monastery of Cluny, Odilo Cluny, named the day as a day of remembrance for all the faithful who have died. There have been Christian festivals to commemorate the dead since the 2nd century.
All Saints’ Day is a public holiday in large parts of Europe: In addition to Austria, All Saints’ Day is observed in the predominantly Catholic cantons of Switzerland, in parts of Germany, in the Catholic Mediterranean countries, with includes France, in Catholic-. leading post-communist states such as Poland, Croatia and Lithuania and on a public holiday in Southeast Asia the Philippines. Although All Souls Day is not a public holiday in Austria, there are no classes in public schools and the day is free from lectures at some universities.
What are the customs around All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day?
Traditionally, many people visit the deceased at the cemetery on these two days, decorate the graves with flowers, light candles and pray for them. In the afternoon on All Saints’ Day, grave walks and grave blessings are also held in the parishes.
Striezel na Naomh Uile or Zopf na Naomh Uile, a symbolic form of feeding the soul, is also a popular custom. The sweet yeast pastry is usually given as a gift on All Souls Day. In some regions of Austria, this day is also called “Godntag” or “Godltag” because the father or godmother Striezel gives the bride All Saints. Traditionally, on All Saints’ Day, the soldiers who died in the world wars are remembered with a celebration and the laying of a wreath in front of the monuments. Memorial plaques and crosses are often placed on the side of the road for those who have died in accidents.
Those: kathpress