- From 313 to November 1: from the first scattered commemorations to the day unified by Gregory III and universalized by Gregory IV.
- All Saints, including the anonymous ones: a solemnity of obligation in many countries and with different calendars in other faiths.
- November 1st and 2nd are not the same: the first honors those who are with God; the second prays for the deceased, inspired by Saint Odilo.
November 1st returns each year as a classic on the religious and cultural calendar: All Saints' Day. It is the date on which millions of people, especially in countries with a Catholic tradition, pay homage to those considered role models of Christian life, whether canonized or not. In 2025, for example, that day falls on a Saturday, a detail that does not alter its meaning but does allow many to dedicate more time to remembering their loved ones. In any case, its significance is much more than a simple autumn commemoration, because its Its origins lie in more than a millennium of history and it links to pre-Christian rites.
This solemnity not only evokes famous names from the altars, but also embraces the countless anonymous believers who, according to the faith, have attained sainthood. The Spanish Episcopal Conference often reminds us that saints act as intercessors and role models of evangelical lifeAnd this context helps to understand why the festival remains so relevant. Furthermore, it is surrounded by very different popular customs: visits to cemeteries with flowers, solemn masses, regional traditions, and even celebrations of Celtic origin that, over the centuries, blended with the new faith without entirely losing their ancient flavor.
Origin and establishment of November 1
The story begins with the first centuries of Christianity, when the community faced severe persecutions—such as that of Diocletian— who left behind a multitude of martyrs. After the Edict of Milan of the year 313The Christian religion gained legitimacy in the Roman Empire, and the idea of celebrating a common commemoration to honor all saints and martyrs, not just the most famous, gradually took hold. In those early days, however, there was no single calendar, and each region marked its own date.
In Syria and nearby areas, with Edessa as a reference point, there were communities that celebrated that memory on May 13In the West, meanwhile, the custom developed of commemorating them on the first Sunday after Pentecost. This diversity reflects how the veneration of saints evolved organically before Rome established a universal date. A key milestone in this process was the decision of the Pope Boniface IV, who in the year 609 dedicated the Pantheon of Rome to the Virgin Mary and all the martyrs, a gesture that set the course for the feast and that, according to tradition, consolidated the liturgical link with those who gave their lives for the faith.
The final step towards November 1st is attributed to Gregory III (731-741)who dedicated a chapel in St. Peter's Basilica in honor of All Saints and established that date in Rome. Not long after, Gregory IV He ordered its observance throughout the Church around the years 835-837Thus, the commemoration ceased to be a local celebration and became a solemnity of universal significance. Since then, the November 1st feast has taken root throughout the Christian world.
The choice of day was not arbitrary. Various studies and traditions maintain that November was chosen to Christianize or deactivate deeply rooted pagan rites Among the peoples of northern Europe, especially those of Celtic and Germanic origin, the Church, by superimposing a Christian festival onto these seasonal transitional celebrations, fostered the adoption of a sacred memory that, over time, integrated and transformed earlier practices without completely erasing their cultural resonance.
Meanwhile, different Christian denominations were establishing their own calendars. Anglican church The celebration is still held on November 1st. Orthodox Church —along with other Eastern traditions and Lutheran or Methodist communities— places it in first Sunday after PentecostThese differences do not break the common thread: it is a day to recognize holiness in all its expressions, including that which only God knows.
From May to November: from the Pantheon to San Pedro
The historical sequence shows a clear evolution: from a diverse and scattered commemoration (May 13th in some places, the first week after Pentecost in others) to a unified day. The dedication of the ancient Roman temple—the Pantheon—by Boniface IV in the 609 sowed the seed of a shared celebration. The subsequent decision to Gregory III to move the commemoration to November and its universal dissemination with Gregory IV They culminated a process of more than four centuries, until November 1st became the reference date for Latin Christendom.
Why that date in particular?
The most frequently repeated explanation points to the pastoral strategy: November coincided with agricultural and end-of-cycle festivities In Europe, placing the Christian festival there allowed for a reinterpretation of the rites and a new meaning to be given to them. This is the case of HalloweenSamhain, the great Celtic celebration of the transition to the dark period of the year, with its imagery of a border between worlds. Although All Saints' Day did not originate from Samhain, it is true that the choice of November 1st facilitated dialogue—not always easy—between the two realities, and the long-term influence left its mark on local customs that remain alive in regions such as Galicia and Ireland.
Christian and Orthodox calendars
The universalization of the date in the West does not prevent other traditions from maintaining their own liturgical rhythm. In the Orthodox ChurchAll Saints' Day is celebrated on the Sunday following Pentecost, thus highlighting the work of the Spirit in the sanctification of the faithful. Communities Lutherans and Methodists They also reserve that Sunday for a similar commemoration, while Catholics and Anglicans observe it on November 1st. The map is diverse, but the intention is identical: to give thanks for the multitude of witnesses who, through their lives, have reflected the Gospel.
Religious sense, differences and customs
The celebration is not limited to officially canonized saints. The Church insists that November 1st is a day to remember all those who have been canonized. all those whose holiness is known only to GodTherefore, although in practice many parishes focus on popular figures, the day also embraces unknown saints, those who lived lives of daily dedication without ever reaching a formal canonization process. This breadth is part of its strength and explains its intergenerational appeal.
In the Catholic sphere, All Saints' Day is considered holy day of obligation In many countries, the faithful are invited—and, where the norm applies, required—to participate in Mass, unless prevented by a compelling reason. After the Reformation, various Protestant communities maintained the commemoration with their own distinct traditions; for example, Methodism emphasizes gratitude for the lives and deaths of the saints. In other places, such as the United States, it is not usually a public holiday, although its religious observance persists in many local churches.
It is worth clarifying a common misconception: All Saints' Day (November 1st) is not the same as All Souls' Day (November 2nd)The first day honors those who already enjoy the presence of God—the saints, both known and unknown—while the following day is dedicated to praying for the souls of those who have died and are undergoing purification, according to the doctrine of purgatory. This second day became established from the 10th century onward thanks to the impetus of Saint Odilo of Cluny in France, and it spread until it was adopted in the Latin Church from the 16th century onwards.
The customs associated with November 1st are very varied. In Spain, the usual practice is visit cemeteries with flowersto tidy up graves and share a moment of family remembrance. In many cathedrals, relics of their patron saints are displayed, or solemn celebrations are held. At the same time, regional traditions persist, shaping the character of the day and connecting it to the beginning of autumn and the arrival of colder weather.
Spain: from remembrance in the cemetery to roasting chestnuts over a fire
In the Canary Islands, the Feast of the Deadwhich brings families together to remember the deceased through stories, music, and food. In Galicia, the Basque Country, and Catalonia, roasted chestnuts share the spotlight: in the Celtic tradition of Halloween, in the Gaztañerre Eguna and in the Castanyadarespectively. They are different ways of celebrating the same memory, with a common background of gratitude for the harvest and of shelter against changing times.
There are curious practices that still persist in certain towns. In Begíjar (Jaén)For example, the custom of covering the keyholes of houses with porridge is still practiced, in the belief that this wards off evil spirits. These kinds of rituals, which are now observed with a festive air, reveal the old fear of the unknown on All Souls' Night and show how ancient superstitions coexist with the Christian celebration.
Europe and Asia: civil holidays and popular devotions
Beyond Spain, November 1st is a non-working day in France and Germanywhere many businesses close and entire families go to cemeteries or churches. Philippines, this date —known as Undas— It combines the memory of the saints with the remembrance of the deceased: flowers are brought, prayers are said, and food is shared on the graves, in a mixture of solemnity and conviviality that is part of their cultural identity.
America: from La Catrina to giant kites
En MexicoThe atmosphere surrounding November 1st and 2nd reaches a unique intensity. Pre-Hispanic roots—which included sharing the harvest with ancestors and laying paths of flowers to guide them—merged with the Catholic tradition, and from this synthesis, the current Day of the Dead was born. Day of the DeadUNESCO declared this tradition Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity for its symbolic richness and community value. An icon of this universe is The Catrina, a figure popularized by Diego Rivera in his mural “Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Central”, starting from the garbancera skull that caricatured Jose Guadalupe Posada around 1910 to criticize social appearances.
En GuatemalaNovember 1st is celebrated with a vibrant mix of indigenous tradition and Catholic faith. It is typical to stiff —a festive dish with sausages, meats and vegetables—, accompanied by Sweet squash, sweet jocotes, and chickpeas in honeyBut nothing attracts as much attention as the kites or giant comets of Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquezraised to the sky to ward off evil spirits or, according to others, as a sign of communication with ancestors. All Saints Cuchumatán (Huehuetenango), the day includes the famous ribbon race, with riders dressed in ceremonial attire in a challenge that lasts for hours and reinforces community identity.
Halloween and the “triduum” at the end of October
The relationship between Halloween (October 31), All Saints' Day (November 1), and All Souls' Day (November 2) are often described as a cultural "triduum": three days linked by the remembrance of the dead. Halloween—the All Hallows' Eve English culture—largely originates from the Celtic world and was adopted and transformed over time. The taste for costume is attributed to French influences. trick or treat to Anglo-Saxon environments and the use of pumpkins Irish influences. With the arrival of immigrants to the United States, these elements blended and became integrated into a grand urban celebration that today coexists, in its own way, with the Christian commemoration of saints and the dead.
In practice, many countries experience these days as a single unit: the more playful eve, the solemnity of November 1st, and the prayer for the dead on the 2nd. Far from contradicting each other, these moments can complement one another if it is understood that each It has its own meaning. and its particular emphasis: from homage to those who already enjoy God, to supplication for those who are on their way.
A festival with a local face and a universal vocation
The plurality of traditions does not dilute the core of solemnity. Whether in the display of relics in cathedrals or in a sober visit to the village cemetery, the same conviction prevails: The lives of saints illuminate the present and they sustain the hope of a full life. That is why, although the styles change—from seasonal sweets in Spain to flower altars in Mexico, passing through Guatemalan kites—the memory of All Saints continues to offer a common and recognizable language.
There are also local nuances that enrich the experience. In some parishes, a vigil is organized on the night of October 31st—recapturing the meaning of the Hallowe'en—, in others, people who are alone are visited, and in many rural areas, the celebration continues at the table with traditional desserts and seasonal dishes. All of this creates a tapestry of gestures in which each community contributes its own way of celebrating, without losing sight of the original purpose. holiness as a universal calling.
The distinction between saints and the deceasedThis aspect, sometimes overlooked, also helps to focus the meaning of each day. On November 1st, we look towards those who have already reached their goal, while on November 2nd, we pray for those who still need purification. In this dual perspective—the goal contemplated and the journey underway—lie family ties, the collective memory, and communal prayer, three elements that explain the enduring presence of these dates in increasingly pluralistic societies.
Taken together, the history of All Saints tells of a transition: from a patchwork of dates and devotions to an established solemnity. November 1thWith a strong liturgical and cultural imprint, its deep roots in Spain and the rest of the world are evident both in the respectful silence of cemeteries and in the popular rites that color the day. And although the passage of time has incorporated foreign customs—or revived ancient ones—the heart of the celebration remains: recognizing that holiness is not the preserve of a few, but the goal to which all life is invited.
Anyone who approaches this celebration with fresh eyes will discover that its charm lies not only in the flowers, sweets, or candles, but in what they evoke: a grateful memory for those who came before us in faith and a commitment to live today with the same consistency. Precisely for this reason, All Saints endures through time: because it remembers, inspires, and quietly proposes a horizon of shared hope.
