Paying tribute to the deceased at All Saints' Day

• What is All Saints' Day?
• What is the difference between All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day?
• What is the history of All Saints' Day?
• What are the traditions on All Saints' Day?
• Why go to the cemetery?
• How do you make a flower arrangement for All Saints' Day?
• Chrysanthemums: a hardy flower full of symbolism
• Cyclamen: the adapted and robust plant
• What colours of flowers should I choose for the deceased?
• What do purple or mauve flowers mean on a grave?
• Why use white flowers on a grave?
• Using red flowers to decorate a grave
• How to celebrate All Saints' Day?
• The grave marker and memorial objects
• Remembering the deceased and talking about the lost one
• Organising a family meal
• Lighting a candle

What is All Saints' Day?

All Saints' weekend is next week and is an important time for the Christian community to remember the dead. All Saints' Day is the most important time of the year to pay tribute to our departed loved ones.
Everyone has their own customs and pays their respects in a different way, but there are traditions that most Christians follow at this time.

What is the difference between All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day?

All Souls' Day is quite often confused with and directly associated with All Saints' Day. The first day of November is known as "All Saints' Day" which literally means "the feast of all saints", a day on which we celebrate all saints, both known and unknown. All Souls' Day is celebrated the day after All Saints' Day, i.e. on 2 November, and is an occasion for the Catholic Church to honour the memory of our deceased loved ones.

What is the history of All Saints' Day?

All Saints' Day originated in the fourth century when Christians celebrated the Feast of the Martyrs on the Sunday after Pentecost. Since its arrival in the West, All Saints' Day has been part of the Catholic calendar and one of the 50 days of non-working days.

Why go to the cemetery?

Many people have wished to be buried for their graves to honour the memory of the deceased and for many years it has been common practice to put flowers on their graves at this time of year in particular. It is a symbolic act of remembering and caring for the place where our loved ones lie and is an integral part of the grieving process.
Visiting the cemetery is also an opportunity to visit the deceased, to gather with family or alone and to pray and remember.

How to choose flowers and flower arrangements for All Saints' Day?

Chrysanthemums: a hardy flower full of symbolism

Chrysanthemums are the most popular flower for grave decoration, especially on All Saints' Day. It is considered a symbol of completed love. It is also a symbol of light and positivity, being associated with the sun. But its autumnal flowering makes it the perfect flower for the All Saints' Day period. Its resistance to the cold and the first frosts of winter will also give it a certain longevity.

Cyclamen: the adapted and robust plant

The cyclamen is a plant that symbolises the sincerity of feelings, which makes it a suitable plant for flowering graves. It is suitable for the All Saints' Day period, being hardy, resistant to rain and wind and also to low temperatures.

What colours of flowers to choose for the deceased?

Choosing flowers can be complicated, as each colour has a different meaning.

What do purple or mauve flowers mean on a grave?

The colour purple is associated with sadness. It expresses deep feelings. Purple is often used to honour those who have recently died and are still grieving.

Why use white flowers on a grave?

White is a symbol of purity and carefreeness and is usually used on the graves of children. Its colour expresses softness and is also associated with respect.

Using red flowers to decorate a grave

As red expresses love or family, choosing arrangements with touches of red will reinforce the expression of love for the deceased. The choice of this colour also brings a little cheerfulness to the grave of the deceased loved one.

How to celebrate All Saints' Day?

Funerary plaque and memorial objects

The grave marker can decorate the grave of the deceased and is available in a wide range of materials: glass, slate, granite, marble, etc. The memorial objects, which are intended to be attached to the grave marker, can be used to express feelings. Remembrance objects can also be used to pay a more personalised tribute to the deceased by using a photo, an engraving, a poem, a cross, etc.

Remembering the deceased and talking about the lost person

There are other ways if you cannot visit the grave of your loved one. You can remember memories, past moments, write a text or a word, say a prayer.

Organise a family meal

Another possibility is to get together with family or friends to honour the memory of the deceased. This is an opportunity to share feelings, remember joyful moments, the different things that the deceased loved one enjoyed.

Lighting a candle

Lighting a candle in honour of a loved one is a simple gesture that expresses purity, light and the elevation of the soul. It also allows one to be at peace and to think with serenity. The candle can be placed on the grave of the deceased or used at a place of your choice as a sign of thought for the deceased and to reflect.

Prayer for All Saints

Lord, at this time of All Saints, we thank you for all those who have gone before us and put their faith in you.

We thank you for all those who have lived holy lives and have been examples for us.

We pray that we may follow their example by living lives of faith, love and compassion.

Help us to remember that their lives continue through us, as they rest in peace in your eternal kingdom.

We pray for the souls of our loved ones, that they may rest in peace and be reunited with you for eternity.

We pray for our bereaved family members and friends, that they may find comfort and peace in you.


Amen