Diffrent habbits of All Saints` Day

Hello! 

As I can imagine today everybody in Poland is thinking of All Saints’ Day which is celebrated annually on 1^st November by whole Catholic Church. This day is dedicated for all those who have attained heaven and the following day, that is the 2^nd November, known as All Souls’ Day, which is dedicated to those who have died and not yet reached heaven. In Poland during this day we are visiting graves of our families and friends, we are decorating them with flowers and light candles and also we are praying for our dead. In general it’s time of our reflection on life and death.

But have you ever wondered how these days are celebrating in the others countries? Are there some differences or special habits? 

Today I want you to say how it goes in France and Spain.

In France there is no tradition to light candles on the graves. People are used to decorating the graves with chrysanthemums and wreaths. Often on the tombstones, you will notice that there are no date of birth and death of person, but there is a short dedication to that person. What is also important, French people are having different attitude to these days than in Poland. For them It’s a good time to go somewhere with family for a long weekend. In schools and at the Universities during whole week there are no classes! What’s more, this week it’s called “Holidays of All saints’ Day” in French “les Vacances de Toussaint”.

Let`s move to Spain. 

A typical Spanish cemetery is completely different than in Poland. It looks like a park of the tombs, where ashes of dead are placed. Every tomb is closed by a plaque with the name of dead and people put flowers on the hangers or vases which are attached to this plaques.

In some small villages during “All Saint’s Day” people are kindling a fire to show the way to get back home for dead.  In the Nord of Spain, there is a tradition to make “The ritual of souls” during the night from 1^st to 2^nd November. It’s a procession of citizens in which they are divided into smaller groups, that is, on those who are unmarried, single and the others. They have a light candles and they sing a traditional “Song of the souls”. After every strophe they say Our Father prayer. When the procession finishes, priest gives cakes and wine to participants. 

 

In Catalonia after getting back from cemetery people eat small marzipan cookies, called “The saint’s bones” because it’s believed that every eaten cookie release the soul of dead from purgatory, and the fact that they are eating “The saint’s bones” means that they love their dead.

In common with many festivals throughout the country there are a number of special dishes which are associated with All Saint’s Day. Chief amongst these is the tradition of eating roasted chestnuts. The chestnut element of the tradition comes from the legend of Maria La Castañada, a chestnut seller, about whom there are many stories.