On November 1st, we celebrate All Saints’ Day and it is traditional to go to cemeteries to pay homage to those who have already passed away. It is a celebration of memory and family which, over the years, has evolved into Anglo-Saxon traditions. However, All Saints’ Day cannot be confused with day of the faithful dead. Let’s look at the differences and why the confusion.
These festivities have a Catholic and Christian background, and since they take place practically two days in a row, that is why they are confused and some believe that they are the same. November 1 (All Saints’ Day) is a public holiday throughout Spain, as well as in other countries. As we highlight November 2, the date on which the Feast of the Faithful Dead is celebrated, a little less known in general. This day is a working dayand focuses on prayer for the faithful who have ended their earthly life, especially those who are still in a state of purification in Purgatory.
Confusion between All Saints’ Day and All Saints’ Day
On November 1, for All Saints’ Day, people go to the cemetery to hold a vigil, bring flowers, clean and visit the headstones of their deceased loved ones. This happens in Spain and other countries around the world, while in other places the custom of going to the cemetery is carried out on November 2. The confusion may therefore be greater.
On All Saints’ Day, the main churches: Christian, Orthodox, Western, union of utrecht (churches)the Porvoo Communion, together with the Anglican Communion and the Catholic Church, have agreed to have the same calendar and days of religious celebrations and saints to facilitate the participation of their parishioners in their respective celebrations.
For the Catholic Church, This commemoration focuses on the remembrance that the Church itself makes in favor of all those who have died in this world (the faithful departed), but who still cannot enjoy the presence of God, and this because they are in purgatory.
As we have pointed out, this holiday has a relative importance in the country and it is not a public holiday. Today, it is more important in certain Latin American countries such as Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia…
Reasons why these days are confusing
Almost the same calendar days
As we see, the confusion between these two holidays can be due to several factors. One of them is the temporal proximity between the two, since they are celebrated on consecutive days. November 1st and 2nd.
Similarity of celebrations
Another factor that creates confusion between traditional celebrations and celebrations is that the themes are really similar.
Both take into account visiting cemeteries, lighting candles or even offering flowers to the deceased. Well, on the famous All Saints’ Day, that of November 2 the deceased faithful, concerns the believers offering their prayers, their sacrifices, going to mass so that the deceased faithful of the purgative church complete this stage and reach the presence of God.
Both, although having a pagan origin, were assimilated by Christianity with different meanings.
Day of the Faithful Dead in Spain
It should be noted that the origin of the Day of the Dead dates back to the year 998 at the hands of the Benedictine monk Saint Odilón of France. The celebration was adopted in the 16th century in Rome and has since spread among Catholics around the world.
As we have established, it is based on the doctrine according to which the souls of the faithful who, at the time of their death, have not been cleansed of their sins and cannot reach Beatific vision. To help them achieve this, we must pray and make the sacrifice of the mass.
In Spain, we also venerate the deceased; and in addition to going to mass, there is a belief that the loved one who has left will move on to a better life.
During these days, November 1st and 2nd, each Spanish community has its own tradition. As for pastries, it is more common that on the 2nd day they eat the bones of the saintwhich are made from almond paste, elongated and cylindrical in shape, with sweet yolk inside.
In other places, they eat chestnuts, other nuts, sweet potatoes, and even smaller cakes like panellets, pieces of pastry that are usually eaten on November 1, All Saints’ Day.
Anyway, it’s a vacation. liturgical and religiouswhich over time take on another caliber, more festive, of fear, terror, costumes imitating Halloween, decorations and dinners.
