All Saints' Day, aholy day of obligationin some areas (anational holidayin many historicallyCatholic countries), and its related observance:
Day of the Innocents, The first day ofDay of the DeadorEl Dia de los Muertoscelebration. (Mexico,Haiti)
All Saints' Day is a Christian feast honoring all saints and martyrs, observed as a public holiday in many historically Catholic countries. It also marks the first day of Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico and parts of Latin America.
All Saints' Day has been celebrated since the early centuries of the Church to honor all known and unknown saints. It is observed on November 1 by Catholics worldwide and is a public holiday in countries such as Spain, France, and Italy. The tradition honors martyrs and saints, and follows All Hallows' Eve on October 31. In Mexico and other Latin American nations, it marks the start of Día de los Muertos festivities, a vibrant cultural celebration of ancestors. Families create altars with photos, marigolds, and offerings to remember loved ones. The day combines solemn liturgical services with colorful processions and folk customs, blending religious devotion with cultural heritage.
All Saints' Day
holy day of obligation
national holiday
Catholic countries
Day of the Innocents
Day of the Dead
Haiti
Christianfeast day:
Austromoine, Benignus of Dijon, Caesarius of Africa, Santa Muerte(Folk Catholicism, Mexico andSouthwestern United States), November 1 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
Various Christian traditions observe the feast days of saints such as Austromoine, Benignus of Dijon, Caesarius of Africa, and the folk devotion to Santa Muerte on November 1.
In the Roman Catholic Church, November 1 commemorates the feast days of early saints including Austromoine, known for his hermit life, Benignus of Dijon, and Caesarius of Africa. Eastern Orthodox liturgics also honor particular saints on this date. In Mexico and the Southwestern United States, folk Catholic practices venerate Santa Muerte, a personification of death. These observances range from solemn masses and processions to folk rituals offering gifts and prayers for protection. Pilgrims visit shrines and participate in local customs that blend indigenous and Christian beliefs. The diversity of celebrations reflects the wide tapestry of Christian devotion around the world.
feast day
Austromoine
Benignus of Dijon
Caesarius of Africa
Santa Muerte
Folk Catholicism
Southwestern United States
November 1 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
The first day of winter observances:
Calan Gaeaf, celebrations start at sunset ofOctober 31. (Wales), Samhainin theNorthern HemisphereandBeltanein theSouthern Hemisphere, celebrations start at sunset ofOctober 31(NeopaganWheel of the Year)
In the Neopagan Wheel of the Year, November 1 marks the first day of the winter half of the year, known as Calan Gaeaf in Wales or Samhain in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, this date is celebrated as Beltane.
November 1 is recognized among Neopagans as the start of the darker half of the year, following the festival of Samhain. In Wales, this day is called Calan Gaeaf, marking traditional bonfires and rituals to ward off spirits. Neopagan groups hold ceremonies to honor ancestors, reflect on mortality, and celebrate the cycle of life and death. In the Northern Hemisphere, the season is often observed with autumnal feasts and harvest home activities. Conversely, communities in the Southern Hemisphere celebrate Beltane at this time, marking the start of the bright half of the year with fertility rites and floral decorations. These interlinked festivals emphasize rebirth, renewal, and the eternal return of the sun. Modern Pagan gatherings include drumming, storytelling, and nature walks to connect with the changing seasons.
Calan Gaeaf
October 31
Wales
Samhain
Northern Hemisphere
Beltane
Southern Hemisphere
October 31
Neopagan
Wheel of the Year
Day of the Innocents, The first day ofDay of the DeadorEl Dia de los Muertoscelebration. (Mexico,Haiti)
Day of the Innocents, observed on November 1 in Mexico and Haiti, is the first day of the Día de los Muertos celebrations and honors the spirits of deceased children. Families build colorful altars with offerings and sweets for young souls.
On November 1, Day of the Innocents (Día de los Angelitos) kicks off the Mexican Día de los Muertos festivities dedicated to deceased children. Families believe that the spirits of young souls return on this day to enjoy treats of pan de muerto, candies, and their favorite toys. Elaborate ofrendas (altars) decorated with marigolds, candles, and photographs are set up both at home and in cemeteries. In Haiti, similar traditions honor childhood spirits through ceremonies blending African, Indigenous, and Catholic elements. Parades and public celebrations feature colorful costumes, face painting, and symbolic artwork. The day emphasizes remembrance, joy, and the belief that death is a continuation of life. It fosters intergenerational sharing with elders passing down stories and customs to younger generations.
Day of the Innocents
Day of the Dead
Haiti
Austromoine
Saint Austremoine, one of the seven founding bishops of Clermont in Gaul, is commemorated on November 1. The feast day honors his legacy in spreading Christianity in ancient France.
Austromoine, also known as Saint Austremonius, was a 3rd-century missionary and the first bishop of Clermont in medieval Gaul. His feast day on November 1 celebrates his evangelistic work and establishment of the Christian church in the region. Church services and local processions in parts of France honor his memory with prayers and hymns. Many churches dedicated to Saint Austremoine hold special masses and community gatherings. Religious scholars and devotees reflect on his writings and the early history of Christianity in Europe. The day offers an opportunity for the faithful to learn about the challenges faced by early missionaries and the growth of the church under Roman rule. Cultural events may include lectures, exhibitions of ancient manuscripts, and visits to cathedrals bearing his name.
Austromoine
Benignus of Dijon
Saint Benignus of Dijon, a 3rd-century martyr and missionary, is remembered on November 1. The feast day celebrates his devotion and missionary efforts in early Christian Burgundy.
Benignus of Dijon was an Irish or Welsh-born bishop and missionary who brought Christianity to the region of Burgundy in the 3rd century. According to tradition, he suffered martyrdom under Roman persecution around 272. His relics became venerated in Dijon, where a basilica was later built in his honor. On November 1, devotees attend mass and participate in processions to pay homage to his sacrifice. Communities hold prayer vigils and recount legends of his missionary journeys. The day highlights the spread of Christianity in Gaul and the enduring legacy of early saints. Historical societies may organize exhibitions on archaeological finds related to his cult and the development of Dijon as a pilgrimage site.
Benignus of Dijon
Caesarius of Africa
Caesarius of Africa is commemorated on November 1 in honor of an early Christian martyr whose steadfast faith under persecution inspired local communities.
According to tradition, Caesarius of Africa was an early Christian martyr who gave his life for his faith in North Africa. His feast day on November 1 invites believers to honor his memory and steadfastness. Though historical details remain scarce, some churches and communities commemorate him with special masses and prayers. The day highlights the trials of early Christian communities facing persecution under Roman rule. Observances may include liturgical readings, hymns, and reflections on courage and devotion. The feast encourages study of early church history and the legacies of lesser-known saints.
Caesarius of Africa
Santa Muerte(Folk Catholicism, Mexico andSouthwestern United States)
A day honoring Santa Muerte, the folk Catholic saint of death, celebrated by devotees in Mexico and the Southwestern United States.
Santa Muerte, or Holy Death, is a folk Catholic figure revered in Mexico and the southwestern United States.
Combining indigenous Mesoamerican beliefs with Catholic iconography, her veneration has grown since the 20th century.
Honored on November 1, the feast coincides with All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days, symbolizing the cycle of life and death.
Devotees build colorful altars adorned with candles, marigolds, and offerings of food, liquor, and cigarettes.
Pilgrimages to major shrines, such as the Tepito market in Mexico City, draw thousands each year.
Practitioners pray for protection, healing, and favors, often to address life’s hardships.
Despite controversy from the Catholic Church, her following continues to expand among diverse communities.
Santa Muerte
Folk Catholicism
Southwestern United States
November 1 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, November 1 marks the liturgical commemoration of saints and feast days, observed with special services and hymns.
November 1 on the Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar commemorates the feast of numerous saints, most notably St. John Chrysostom, the renowned 4th-century Archbishop of Constantinople.
Orthodox Christians attend the Divine Liturgy, chanting hymns and reading the lives of the saints being honored.
This date parallels the Western All Saints' observance but remains distinct in its own traditions and saints roster.
Local churches may celebrate additional regional or national saints, reflecting the diversity of Orthodox communities.
Fasting rules may be relaxed, and faithful often offer memorial prayers for the departed following the service.
The day fosters a connection with the early church and the spiritual heritage of Orthodoxy through centuries-old liturgical practices.
November 1 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
Samhainin theNorthern HemisphereandBeltanein theSouthern Hemisphere, celebrations start at sunset ofOctober 31(NeopaganWheel of the Year)
A Neopagan Wheel of the Year festival marking the end of the harvest and the start of winter (Samhain) or summer (Beltane), celebrated from sunset October 31.
Samhain is one of eight major festivals in the Neopagan Wheel of the Year, honoring the boundary between the living and the spirit world.
Observed in the Northern Hemisphere on November 1 (with celebrations from October 31 sunset), it marks the onset of winter and a time to remember ancestors.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the same date serves as Beltane, celebrating the beginning of the light half of the year and fertility.
Rituals often include lighting bonfires, performing divination, and setting places at the ritual table for departed loved ones.
Participants may hold feasts, create ancestral altars, and engage in dramatic performances of ancient myths.
Modern Wiccans, Druids, and other pagan groups adapt these customs to local climates and cultural contexts.
The festival reflects themes of death and rebirth, seasonal cycles, and community gatherings.
Samhain
Northern Hemisphere
Beltane
Southern Hemisphere
October 31
Neopagan
Wheel of the Year