One of the major Catholic holidays celebrated in Poland is known as All Saint’s Day, which is observed on November 1. It is one of the top holy days in which Poles will participate. Since All Saints Day is a bank holiday, transportation is limited, usually only shuffling people to and from cemeteries.

All Saints Day is a time to give honor to known and unknown saints and martyrs. Catholics remember the saints as well as those who have lived holy lives.^[1] The holiday is also set aside for Catholics to pray for the souls of deceased loved ones, wherever they may be. Roman Catholics believe that if loved ones are in an indeterminate state between hell and heaven in a place known as purgatory, then they can intercede on their behalf and pray their souls into heaven.

Catholic Poles will take part in this holiday typically by visiting graves of relatives. Families will clean the graves and decorate them with flowers, wreaths and candles.^[2] People will not only light candles at their relatives’ graves, but at graves of famous or important people who have been buried in local cemeteries.

People prepare the gravesites throughout the week prior to the holiday and continue on November 2, All Souls Day. We will do a follow-up with photos and more information from this year’s events afterward. Please check back with us! Until then, more information can be found at the following websites. We have included some general information sites, Catholic sites, as well as ones specific to Poland.

For more information check out these links!

References in order appeared:

1. ^{^}Information taken from Polish Culture

2. ^{^}Information taken from inyourPocket