Photo from uniquemallorca.com

All Saints‘ Day is a feast day celebrated on 1st November.
All Souls‘ Day on the 2nd of November, is a time to pray for departed souls.

All Saints’ Day November 1st*
All Saints‘ Day, also called All Hallows’ Day, Hallowmas, or Feast of All Saints, in the Christian church. It’s a celebration of all Christian saints, particularly those who have no special feast days of their own, in many Roman Catholic, Anglican and Protestant churches. In many western churches it is annually held November 1 and in many eastern churches it is celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost.

All Souls‘ Day November 2nd*
All Souls‘ Day is a day of alms giving and prayers for the dead. The intent is for the living to assist those in purgatory. Many western churches annually observe All Souls‘ Day on November 2 and many eastern churches celebrate it prior to Lent and the day before Pentecost.
This day is always celebrated on 2 November. All Souls’ Day follows All Saints’ Day and is also called the Feast of All Souls, Defuncts’ Day (in Hungary, France, Italy, and Ecuador), Day of the Dead (Mexico) or Commemoration of the Faithful Departed.

*from Google search

Why are these days important? Why should I care if I’m not religious, don’t belong to an religious organization or don’t attend a church? These are good questions. My answer is this:

YOU SHOULD CARE about the All Saints’ Day because of the hundreds of thousands of people who sacrificed their lives throughout the centuries for others. Also for the people who were tortured and murdered by various governments and political regimes. These people, no matter what, are saints. Not in the religious sanctified church eyes, but they are saints to people who were persecuted, rescued or represented what was right and good. Honour them. Light a candle.

YOU SHOULD CARE about the All Souls’ Day because of all the friends and family (ancestors) who have passed before you. They gave you life, love, laughter and sustenance. Honour them and light a candle in their memory and cherish their photos.

Ancestor altar – photo by Chele Eva Armstrong