All Saints' Day

Culture of origin: Christian · Cultural

Holiday sources: Australia (national) · Canada (federal) · Christianity · France · Germany (nationwide) · United Kingdom (England and Wales) · United States (federal)

All Saints' Day honours all the saints of the Church, famous or obscure. Feasts for all martyrs existed from the 4th century, and in the 9th century churches in the British Isles began keeping it on November 1, a date the Catholic Church then adopted. It begins on the evening of October 31, All Hallows' Eve (Halloween), and is followed by All Souls' Day; where it is a public holiday, families lay flowers and light candles on graves.