All Saints Day and All Souls Day are long-established holidays in many nations with a Roman Catholic tradition, when people take the day off work, visit graves with candles and flowers, and present children with gifts that are typically candies and toys. On this day, offerings (Portuguese: oferendas; Spanish: ofrendas) are made in Portugal, Spain, and Mexico. Don Juan Tenorio is a drama that is frequently performed in Spain. All Saints Day falls on the same day in Mexico as “Da de los Inocentes,” the first day of the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) festivity, which honours newborns and children who have passed away. Children in Portugal walk door to door in celebration of the Po-por-Deus tradition and get cakes, almonds, and pomegranates. This only happens in a few locations around Lisbon.
People leave flowers to the graves of their deceased relatives in Austria, Belgium, France, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Spain, and American places like New Orleans.
It is customary to light candles and pay respects at the graves of departed family members in Poland, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Finland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Croatia, Austria, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, and Catholic regions of Germany.
This day is known as All Souls’ Day in the Philippines and is also known as “Undas,” “Todos los Santos,” and occasionally “Araw ng mga Patay,” which roughly translates to “Day of the Dead.” Visits to the graves of departed family members are made on this day, the day before, and the day following. During these visits, prayers are said, flowers are left at the graves, candles are lighted, and the graves themselves are restored, painted, and cleaned.
The William Walsham How song “For All the Saints” is typically played at the festival in English-speaking nations. This hymn’s most well-known melody is Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Sine Nomine. Catholics typically observe the holiday by abstaining from physical activity.
