All Saints' Day which is also known as All Hallows' Day is a Christian solemnity celebrated annually on 1st November in honour of all the saints of the church, whether they are known or unknown.
All Saints' Day is a celebration of all Christian saints, particularly those who have no special feast days of their own, in many Roman Catholic, Anglican and Protestant churches. In many western churches it is annually held November 1 and in many eastern churches it is celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost.
In Western Christianity, it is still celebrated on 1 November by the Roman Catholic Church as well as many Protestant churches, as the Lutheran, Anglican, and Methodist traditions.
| Event | All Saints' Day |
|---|---|
| Date | November 1, 2022 |
| Day | Tuesday |
| Significance | The day mark the celebration of all Christian saints |
| Observed by | World wide |
All Saints' Day History:
In the early years when the Roman Empire persecuted Christians, so many people died for their faith that the Church set aside special days to honor them. For example, in 607 AD, Emperor Phocas presented the beautiful Roman Pantheon temple to the Pope Boniface IV. The pope removed the statues of Jupiter and the pagan gods and consecrated the Pantheon to "all saints" who had died from Roman persecution in the first three hundred years after Christ. Many bones were brought from other graves and placed in the rededicated Pantheon church.
Since there were too many martyrs for each to be given a day, they were all lumped together into one day. In the next century, All Saints Day was changed by Pope Gregory III to today's date of November 1st. People prepared for their celebration with a night of vigil on Hallows' Eve, Halloween (possibly because of the strong holdover influence of the Celtic Samhain festival, which many Christians in Ireland, Britain, Scotland, and Wales had continued to observe).
It is likely believed that the date of 1st November for this festival was intentionally chosen to replace the pagan feast of the dead, Samhain. The night before Samhain was a time when evil spirits roamed the land looking for humans. To confuse the spirits, people would dress up as creatures. This tradition carried on after 1 November became a Christian festival, hence the name of Halloween - which is a shortened version of All Hallows' Eve.
Then in the 10th century, Abbot Odela of the Cluny monastery added the next day of November 2nd as the "All Souls" Day" to honor the martyrs and all Christians who had died. People prayed for the dead, but many unchristian superstitions continued. As Christians offered food to the dead as it had been in pagan times. The superstitious also believed that on these two days, souls in purgatory would take the form of witches, toads, or demons and haunt persons who had wronged them during their lifetime. As happens so often in Church history, sacred Christian festivals can absorb so many pagan customs that they lose their significance as Christian holidays.
In the years and decades that followed, various influential figures in the church and government used their power to make All Saints' Day an official observance in different Christian sects and denominations. Today, the holiday is also known depending on the location and branch of the church as All Hallows' Day, Hallowmas, the Feast of All Saints, and the Solemnity of All Saints. Today it is a public holiday in many countries across the world especially among various European countries.
All Saints' Day Significance:
The Christian celebration of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day stems from a belief that there is a powerful spiritual bond between those in heaven (the "Church triumphant"), and the living (the "Church militant"). In Catholic theology, the day commemorates all those who have attained the beatific vision in Heaven. In Methodist theology, All Saints Day revolves around "giving God solemn thanks for the lives and deaths of his saints", including those who are "famous or obscure".
Protestants generally commemorate all Christians, living and deceased, on All Saints' Day; if they observe All Saints Day at all, they use it to remember all Christians both past and present. In the United Methodist Church, All Saints' Day is celebrated on the first Sunday in November. It is held, not only to remember Saints, but also to remember all those who have died who were members of the local church congregation. In some congregations, a candle is lit by the Acolyte as each person's name is called out by the clergy.
All Saints Day relates to giving God earnest gratitude for the lives and deaths of his saints, remembering those who were well-known and not. Additionally, individuals throughout Christian history are celebrated, such as Peter the Apostle and Charles Wesley, as well as people who have personally guided one to faith in Jesus, such as one's relative or friend. So this us a day on which all of the saints throughout Christian history are remembered and tribute is paid to them for their services.
In addition to weekly worship gatherings, "All Saints Day" annually reminds devotees of their connectedness as Christians and thus it encourages people to celebrate the Christian unity around the world. This day also makes people realize about the importance of saints in Christianity as how they played a very important role in changing our society throughout the Christian history. This day calls for people to recognize the contributions made by such saints by remembering them and also learning from them.
Whether you as an individual believe the old religious stories about saints, martyrs, and miracle-workers to be literal truth or not, but it is known fact that saints became saints for the good works they did in their lifetime and that's why they were able to gain huge following of people believing and respecting them. So this day celebrates the spirit of Christianity as an institution of brotherly love, not a church of hatred toward those who are different. In this way it also inspires people to always follow the path of goodness and virtue for the betterment of this world.
All Saints' Day Celebrations:
All Saints' Day is observed by Christians in many countries around the world. In countries such as Spain, Portugal and Mexico, offerings are made on this day. In countries such as Belgium, Hungary and Italy people bring flowers to the graves of dead relatives. In other parts of Europe, such as Austria, Croatia, Poland, and Romania, it is customary to light candles on top of visiting graves of deceased relatives.
While traditions across the globe vary for All Saints Day, the common theme is a celebration with family and remembrance of those who have passed. Attending a mass is the most common All Saints Day tradition within the Catholic Church. During mass, the Beatitudes are read, and prayers are said for the Saints. Many visit grave sites of loved ones and relatives to pay tribute and remember those who have passed onto heaven.
In Latin communities, families visit gravesites with a feast including the deceased's favorite foods. All Saints' Day in Mexico coincides with the first day of the Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) celebration. It commemorates children who have died (Dia de los Inocentes) and the second day celebrates all deceased adults.
In France church services in memory of all the saints are held on November 1 but by the evening the focus turns towards the dead. Cemeteries everywhere are crowded with people who come to clean and decorate family graves. All Saints' Day is closely tied with All Souls' Day, held on November 2, which is dedicated to prayers of the dead who are not yet glorified.
In Portugal, Dia de Todos os Santos is a national holiday. Families remember their dead with religious observances and visits to the cemetery. Portuguese children celebrate the Pão-por-Deus tradition (also called santorinho, bolinho or fiéis de Deus) going door-to-door, where they receive cakes, nuts, pomegranates, sweets and candies. All Saints Day bread is baked and shared among loved ones in Italy.
Most Searched FAQs on All Saints' Day:
1. When is All Saints' Day celebrated?
All Saints' Day is annually celebrated on 1st November.
2. Is All Saints' Day a day of holy obligation?
Yes, meaning that church members are expected to attend All Saints’ Day Mass, unless November 1 falls on a Saturday or a Monday.
3. How do you celebrate All Saints' Day?
People celebrate the saints by lighting candles and going to church. In some places, people bring flowers to cemeteries and clean the graves of their loved ones for All Saints' Day. For instance, in Louisiana people clean and paint tombs and put flowers on the graves. A priest then blesses the graves.