November 1 is a public holiday throughout Spain. For many families, it is the day to visit the cemetery and remember those who are no longer with us, but its original meaning is different: to celebrate all saints, including those who do not have their own day on the calendar.
All Saints' Day Altarpiece (Adoration of the Holy Trinity), Albrecht Dürer, 1511 (Wikimedia Commons, public domain)
Where this holiday comes from
Early Christians already commemorated the martyrs on a common feast day. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III dedicated a chapel in St. Peter's Basilica to all saints and set the celebration in Rome on November 1; a century later, Gregory IV extended it to the whole Church.
All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day are not the same
November 1 celebrates those who are already with God. November 2, All Souls' Day, is a day of prayer for all who have died. In practice, in Spain the two dates are observed together, and that is why on November 1 cemeteries are filled with flowers.
Traditions in Spain
- Huesos de santo and buñuelos: the typical sweets of these dates, especially in Madrid.
- Chestnuts: the castanyada in Catalonia or the magosto in Galicia and other northern regions.
- Don Juan Tenorio: Zorrilla's play is traditionally performed around these days.
- Flowers at the cemetery: the most widespread custom to remember our loved ones.
A good day to remember our saints
All Saints' Day is also a wonderful time to give a loved one a saint's or Virgin's medal, or to retrieve one that a grandfather or grandmother used to wear. If you want to know why saints are so important to Catholics, read this article.
And if you are thinking of St. Jude Thaddeus, whose feast day is October 28, here are all our St. Jude Thaddeus Medals.
Discover all our medals and our gift sets, handmade in Spain.