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All Saints Day Facts

All Saints Day Facts
All Saints' Day is a religious holiday celebrated by the Catholic Church and some Protestant Churches, as well as Eastern Orthodox Churches. All Saints' Day falls on November 1st or the first Sunday after Pentecost, depending on the denomination. All Saints' Day is a celebration to honor the saints that have graced our world, and as a day to honor loved ones who have passed away. It began in Rome in the 600s, but is celebrated in countries all over the world today. Some people celebrate the holiday by decorating graves with flowers, by lighting candles, and by attending religious ceremonies.
Interesting All Saints Day Facts:
All Saints' Day is celebrated on November 1st in Western Christianity and the first Sunday following Pentecost in Eastern Christianity.
All Saints' Day is also known as All Hallows, Solemnity of All Saints, Hallowmas, and Feast of Saints.
The liturgical color of All Saints' Day is white.
The first All Saints' Day was celebrated in Rome in May of 609, under Pope Boniface IV.
Some believe that All Saints' Day is the result of Greek Christian tradition from the 4th century, when a festival was held to honor saints and martyrs on the Sunday following Pentecost.
Pope Gregory IV made All Saints' Day a holiday in 837.
Mexico celebrates All Saints' Day with a week-long celebration. This celebration includes festivals, parades, and dances.
The football team called the New Orleans Saints was given its name because of New Orleans' large Catholic Church population.
Some All Saints' Day feasts include Irish bread with fruit, soul cakes, and cabbage served with boiled potatoes.
Symbols that are commonly associated with All Saints' Day include images of specific saints, the crown, the hand of God, and a sheaf of wheat.
In some countries such as the Philippines and in France, people visit the graves of their loved ones on All Saints' Day to make repairs or clean the graves.
All Saints' Day is a public holiday in Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Chile, Croatia, France, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and in some parts of Switzerland and Germany.
All Saints' Day is not a nationwide public holiday in Canada, the U.S., the U.K., or Australia, but it is still observed by many Christians in these countries.
In Mexico and in Spain it is tradition for the play titled "Don Juan Tenorio" to be performed on All Saints' Day.
All Saints' Day in Mexico falls on the same day as the beginning of the Day of the Dead, which honors infants and children who have died.
On All Saints' Day Portuguese children go door to door receiving gifts of sweets, candies, nuts, and cakes, similar to Halloween.
Songs that are commonly sung on All Saints' Day include "I Sing a Song of the Saints of God", "Sine Nomine", and For All the Saints".
Shakespeare referred to All Saints' Day as Hallowmas.
All Souls' Day follows All Saints' Day. All Souls' Day celebrates the departed who are not yet purified and therefore have not yet reached Heaven.


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