All Saints Day in Eastern Europe

Posted by Amanda Kendle Nov 1, 2006

In various names and forms, All Saints Day or the Day of the Dead will be acknowledged or celebrated today in many Eastern European countries. Traditionally, some kind of offering to the dead (usually thinking of your ancestors) is made on this day, with candle-lighting, visits to graves and other family celebrations.

Across Eastern Europe, the festival goes under many names and guises. In Slovenia, for example, the holiday has been renamed from the Day of the Dead to Remembrance Day (dan spomina na mrtve), but the principle is the same. Hungary (Mindenszentek), Lithuania (Visu šventuju), Poland (Wszystkich Swietych) and Slovakia (Sviatok všetkých svätých) all celebrate All Saints Day. In many countries it is a national holiday today, and businesses and some shops will be closed.