“Wszystkich Świętych”, Celebrated November 1st
All Saints’ Day on November 1st is the day on which we remember our family members and loved ones who are no longer with us. This day has been celebrated in Poland and the rest of the Catholic world for many centuries.
In Poland, it is a national holiday, free from work, and a day when people visit the graves of loved ones to place candles and flowers on their graves. The special candles, which can burn for many hours, are placed there so that departed souls can find their way through the darkness. Cemeteries are lit by many hundreds of these candles and they can often be seen glowing from long distances as darkness descends and the smell of burning wax mixed with flowers wafts through the crisp autumn air. Many Poles travel back to their home towns to visit family graves and to honor the dead, and the roads and trains are crowded with travelers. The holiday is also sometimes known as the Day of the Dead.
All Souls’ Day (Dzien Zaduszny or Zaduszki), celebrated in Poland on November 2nd.
