Halloween – October 31 / All Saints’ Day – November 1 / All Souls’ Day – November 2
Halloween
Halloween is celebrated every year on the last evening of October, that is, on October 31. The holiday has its roots in the ancient Celtic tradition of saying farewell to summer and welcoming the new year on this very day.
The night between October and November was called Samhain, named after the Celtic god of the dead. According to Celtic belief, the souls of the deceased could return on this night – either to help their loved ones or to trouble their enemies. People lit huge bonfires, dressed in disguises to protect themselves from evil spirits, and celebrated wildly. The fires were also meant to guide the souls of the dead back to the otherworld, and at dawn, the god of the dead would lead them back.
Today, Halloween is celebrated mainly in Anglo-Saxon countries but has also spread to other parts of the world, including the Czech Republic.
The most common decoration is the carved pumpkin, often with a spooky face illuminated by a candle inside. Children and adults alike dress up in scary costumes and go trick-or-treating. Halloween is especially popular in the USA, Canada, the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia.
All Saints’ Day
All Saints’ Day is celebrated by Christians worldwide. In Western Christianity, it falls on November 1, while Eastern Christians following the Julian calendar observe it on the first Sunday after Pentecost.
This day was introduced into Christian tradition in the 7th century and serves to honor all saints and martyrs – not only those officially canonized. Today, the feast is celebrated in both the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches. In many countries, All Saints’ Day is a public holiday and a day of rest.
All Souls’ Day
All Souls’ Day is observed on November 2 and is dedicated to remembering all the faithful departed. Its origins are linked to Abbot Odilo of Cluny, a leader of the Benedictine order in France.
The tradition is tied to the Catholic belief in purgatory, where souls are cleansed of minor sins. On this day, prayers and acts of mercy can lessen the suffering of these souls.
According to folk traditions, on the eve of All Souls’ Day, the souls of the departed return from purgatory for one night. In old Czech customs, farmers filled lamps with butter instead of oil so that the souls could soothe their burns from purgatory’s flames.
From the 19th century onward, people began to decorate graves more extensively. In the Czech Republic, it is common to place wreaths, fresh or potted flowers, and to light candles in memory of loved ones. Believers add prayers for the deceased, turning the day into a solemn commemoration of those who live on in our hearts.
