All Souls' Day · Ruz-e Hameh-ye Dargozashtegan

Culture of origin: Christian · Cultural

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

All Souls' Day is the day of prayer for all the faithful departed. Abbot Odilo of Cluny chose November 2, the day after All Saints, for it in his monasteries, and the custom spread through the Western Church. Families visit and tend graves and light candles on them, and in Mexico the two days are part of the Day of the Dead. Catholics keep it on November 2 even when it falls on a Sunday; Lutherans, Anglicans, Methodists and Reformed churches mark it too.