All Souls Day around the world
Ireland
In Ireland the remembrance of the dead sits at the turn of the Celtic year. The old festival of Samhain (31 October) — the root of Hallowe’en — flows into All Saints’ Day (1 November) and All Souls’ Day (2 November), and the whole of November is traditionally kept as the month of the Holy Souls.
What people actually do
Many attend Mass on All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day and have Masses offered for relatives who have died. Parishes read out the names of those buried from the parish over the past year and hold services of remembrance. Families visit graves to tidy them and leave flowers, and it is common to light a candle at home for the Holy Souls. In many areas the formal blessing of the graves (“Cemetery Sunday”) actually takes place in summer, but November remains the season most associated with praying for the dead. Cemetery Sunday dates and customs vary by parish and diocese.
When to go
All Saints’ Day (1 November) is a Catholic Holy Day of Obligation in Ireland but is not a statutory public holiday, so most workplaces and shops keep normal hours. Cemeteries are generally open to visitors during daylight; there are no mass overnight vigils as in some other countries. Check Mass times with the local parish, as these are announced each year.
What to bring
- Flowers or a small wreath for the grave.
- A candle to light at home or, where permitted, at the graveside.
- Warm, waterproof clothing — November weather is changeable.
- Mass cards, if you wish to have Masses offered for someone.
Costs
Remembrance here costs little: flowers, a candle, and an optional offering when you ask for a Mass to be said. There is no charge to visit a public cemetery.
A gentler pace
Compared with Poland, the Philippines or Mexico, the Irish observance is quieter and more centred on the church and the home than on a single great gathering at the cemetery. If you are far from the grave, having a Mass offered or lighting a candle for the Holy Souls is a traditional and meaningful way to keep the day.
Remembering someone from Ireland? You can add their name to the wall and light a candle, wherever you are in the world.