If family history had a favorite holiday, it would have to be All Souls’ Day, the thousand-year-old observance that falls every year on November 2, immediately after All Saints’ Day, which is on November 1. Like All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day is for remembering people who have died. But while All Saints’ Day is focused on Christian martyrs and saints, All Souls’ Day is all about the members of your own family and family tree. It’s a day for being with family, visiting cemeteries, sharing memories of loved ones, and honoring traditions.
To be clear, both All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day are prayer days associated with the Catholic Church. But members of other Christian churches also observe these holidays. In some parts of the world, the celebrations incorporate indigenous traditions and beliefs as well. Take Mexico, for example, and its famous Día de los Muertos festivities. In Mayan culture, it was disrespectful to mourn for someone who had died. Hence the colorful costumes, lively music, and delicious foods that the day is famous for.
When Was the First All Souls’ Day?
To understand the origins of All Souls’ Day, we should probably start with All Saints’ Day. During the Middle Ages, most Christian communities held a yearly feast to honor the Church’s saints—martyrs who had died and gone to heaven. In time, this day came to be known as All Saints’ Day, and the Catholic Church made it a holy day of obligation.
Sometime in the 10th century, the Catholic priest St. Odilo of Cluny instituted All Souls’ Day—a day to pray for the souls of deceased family members—ordinary men and women who had lived good lives and were waiting in purgatory until they were worthy to enter heaven. The annual celebration became the final and third day of Allhallowtide—right after All Hallows’ Eve and All Saints’ Day.
Over the centuries, the commemoration of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day has become a popular celebration when communities come together to honor their departed loved ones. During these celebrations, the deceased are considered present in spirit, and it is believed that on these days the veil between the world of the living and the world of souls is thin. Families visit the cemetery, clean the graves of loved ones, place flowers and candles to light the way for the deceased, and often bring food or mementos that were significant in the lives of their loved ones. This custom reinforces the tradition of commemorating deceased family members and fosters collective remembrance within the community.
What is celebrated the 1st and 2nd of November?
On November 1st the Catholic Church celebrates All Saints' Day honoring all saints, known and unknown—those considered to have died in a state of grace and are believed to be in heaven. This includes not only officially canonized saints but also all faithful believers who have attained eternal life.
All Souls’ Day, observed on November 2nd, is dedicated to remembering and praying for the souls of the faithful departed who are still undergoing purification in purgatory. Catholics offer prayers and Masses on this day to help these souls reach heaven.
The key distinction is that All Saints’ Day celebrates those already in heaven, while All Souls’ Day is a time to pray for those who have died but are not yet fully united with God. Together, these two days reflect the Catholic belief in the communion of saints and the spiritual bond between the living and the dead.
The Day of the Dead, a deeply rooted tradition in Mexico, unites both days in a single celebration that blends indigenous customs with the Catholic faith. It is commemorated between November 1st and 2nd and is characterized by transforming remembrance into a celebration by preparing altars and bringing offerings, flowers, and candles to the cemetery. While the Catholic liturgy differentiates between saints and the deceased, Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) brings them together to honor those who have already departed. In the Day of the Dead tradition, November 1st is especially to remember deceased children, and November 2nd to remember deceased adults.
How Do People Celebrate All Souls’ Day?
Today, All Souls’ Day is observed around the world by people of various faiths and cultural backgrounds. Some of the traditions are common to all people, no matter the language or country. But others are unique, and you won’t find them anywhere else. Consider a few examples:
- In Guatemala, people fly kites at the Barriletes Gigantes Festival, or Giant Kites Festival. These kites can take months to build and may be as big as 65 feet across! You can write a note to your ancestor and tie it to the kite’s tail for your ancestor to read in heaven.
- In Mexico, many people create private altars for their ancestors and decorate them with photographs, flowers, candy skulls, and candles. Disney made a great movie about Día de los Muertos, but the real thing is even better.
- In the Philippines, people cook their deceased loved one’s favorite foods for a feast with friends and relatives. Many visit their ancestors’ tombs, light candles, and even spend the night there.
- In Hungary, many people keep the lights on in their homes for the duration of the night and leave food on the table in memory of their loved ones.
- In Poland, traveling home for All Souls’ Day can be a must—similar to Easter and Christmas. Families visit the cemeteries where their ancestors are buried and set the night aglow with a veritable bonfire of candles.
- In Peru, people share a loaf of t’anta wawa with a friend or relative. T’anta wawa is a sweet bread baked into the shape of a doll or small child.
- In Ecuador, families gather to share colada morada and guaguas de pan, a special moment to remember those who have passed away and pass on traditions to the youngest members of the family.
- In Italy, families visit cemeteries on November 2nd to adorn graves with flowers, especially chrysanthemums.
- In Spain: On All Saints' Day, cemeteries are filled with visitors carrying bouquets and wreaths of flowers. Traditional sweets such as huesos de santo (marzipan sweets) and buñuelos de viento (fritters) are also prepared.
- Japan: Although it doesn't fall in November, the Obon festival in Japan takes place in the summer and serves a similar purpose to welcome the spirits of ancestors. Families light lanterns, visit graves, and celebrate with traditional dances in one of the most important festivals on the Japanese calendar.
How Should I Celebrate All Souls’ Day?
This All Souls’ Day, make time to celebrate your family and its history. Does your family have any favorite games or activities? What about foods? Nothing quite brings the family together like participating in a beloved tradition. Or how about starting a new tradition? Something you can do every All Souls’ Day from here on out.
You don’t have to make huge preparations. Sometimes the easy, simple activities are the most meaningful. Here are a few ideas:
- Browse an old photo album with someone you love.
- Share a story about a deceased loved one with someone in your family who is younger than you.
- Make a meal or dessert that reflects your family’s heritage or reminds you of an ancestor.
- Go on a mini pilgrimage to a place that has special meaning to your family. Be creative. The journey could take 10 minutes or a couple of hours.
- Visit a cemetery, and put flowers on an ancestor’s grave.
- Make an audio recording of a family story, and then upload it to your person page on FamilySearch for future generations to enjoy and learn from (we can help you get started).
Get to Know Your Ancestors on FamilySearch
At FamilySearch, you can begin learning about your family history in just a few clicks. Our search tools give you access to millions of historical documents like birth certificates, baptism records, draft cards, and more. The details you discover in these documents will almost certainly surprise you—addresses, middle names, and physical descriptions, to name a few. You might even discover an ancestor you didn’t know about.
You can also use FamilySearch to begin building your family tree. Information about living people is private. No one can see your information but you. But we’ll try to help you connect with ancestors who might have already been entered into our system. This All Souls’ Day, connect to FamilySearch’s shared Family Tree for free to learn more about your ancestors!
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