Once Halloween ends, people gear up for All Souls’ Day to pray for the departed souls. The day is observed by Christians, specifically Catholics, to remember the ones they’ve lost. It is a day when they pray for the dead souls to help them cross purgatory and walk the doors of heaven.
This tradition is believed to be centuries old and is practiced to bring peace to the suffering souls of the dead. People visit churches, cemeteries to pay visits to their departed loved ones.
All Souls’ Day Date
The day is observed every year on November 2. It falls two days after the observance of Halloween and a day after All Saints’ Day, which is often confused by All Souls’ day.
All Souls’ Day History
It was in the 6th-century CE that the tradition of honoring the dead was first observed in Benedictene monasteries. It was set for Monday after Pentecost but sooner other dates were also set by different groups. And in the 11th-century, All Souls’ Day came into being by Saint Odilo of Cluny, a day after All Saints’ Day.
In England, this day is referred to as the ‘Commemoration of the faithful Departed’. The Anglicans consider it as an extension of the previous All Saints’ Day and believe in the resurrection and communion of the saints.
Difference Between All Souls’ Day And All Saints’ Day
People most often confuse All Souls’ Day with All Saints’ Day. Although the two are quite related, they fall on different dates, one after the other. All Saints’ Day is observed on November 1, All Souls’ Day is observed the next day on November 2.
They both have different meanings and purposes to them. All Saints’ Day celebrates the beatified dead souls in heaven. The Catholics honor certain saints who are believed to be known to only God himself. This day marks the honoring of these saints.
All Souls’ Day is a day that is celebrated to help the dead souls to reach heaven through prayers. They help them pass the difficult stage of purgatory and reach heaven.
How is All Souls’ Day Celebrated?
Catholics have interesting and various methods of observing All Souls’ Day. In many countries, the celebrations start on All Saints Day and last through the finish of All Souls’ Day. Festivities range from candle lighting functions to facilitating a family dinner at a friend or family member’s gravesite.
Guatemala
As a feature of the three-day All Souls’ Day festivities in Guatemala, horse riders dress in merry outfits and race each other in the Carrera de Cintas (or Ribbon Race).
The intricately dressed riders race around a 328-foot track the entire day while participating in cocktails. There’s no “champ” in this race, and tumbling off your pony is simply decent.
Individuals from across Guatemala additionally travel to the city of Sumpango for a beautiful kite celebration. The celebratory kites range from six feet to in excess of sixty feet in distance across. Local area individuals work on their kites for quite a long time paving the way to the occasion.
Mexico
Maybe the most popular vivacious celebration, the All Souls’ Day festivity, happens in Mexico. There, Dia de los Muertos, involves marches, road parades, and lively outfits.
Families likewise notice the sacred day in private, making ofrendas, or little special stepped areas, with contributions to friends and family in limbo. The famous 2017 movie ‘Coco’ was all about this day.
Poland
In Poland, Catholics start their festivals on All Saints’ Day. In contrast to different areas all across the globe, Poland observes the heavenly day in calm reflection.
Numerous city roads shut down and additional transports assist with carrying grave celebrants from the urban communities to graveyards on the edges. At the graveyards, families light a large number of candles to recall their dead loved ones.
Hungary
In Hungary, a great many people skip Halloween and take interest in the sacred day. On All Souls’ Day, Catholics go through the day in serious prayers. They visit churches for administrations and visit graveyards to respect and appeal to God for the spirits of left friends and family.
Peru
In Peru, individuals offer sweet bread rolls, called t’anta wawa. These treats are molded like little youngsters.
Peruvians additionally observe All Souls’ Day with a customary family dinner called lechon. The dish comprises simmered pork and it’s frequently presented with tamales.
Philippines
In the Philippines, a great many individuals observe All Souls’ Day. Schools close and towns generally shut down. Families assemble to respect their departed friends and family beginning on Halloween.
The festival goes on for three days and incorporates enriching friends and family’s graves, presenting customary traditions, and singing for the freedom of spirits from purgation.
Germany
Like Poland and Hungary, Germany notices All Souls’ Day in a calm and grave way. On Allerseelen, families enliven friends and family’s gravesites with flowers and candles.
It’s additionally customary to offer bread rolls known as seelen, which signifies “spirits.”
The US
You will not discover All Souls’ Day celebrations in all regions of the U.S., however in the event that you go to Los Angeles, you may wind up contemplating whether you crossed the Mexican line. That is on the grounds that the festivals of All Souls’ Day in Los Angeles intently mirror the customary celebrations that happen farther south.
You’ll discover celebrants wearing elaborate outfits, moving, taking part in road parades, and getting a charge out of conventional food and drink.
