All Saints' Day in Poland

 Hello all, 

a quick blog to capture the Polish holiday and tradition of All Saints' Day on 1 November.  The below info was pulled from a website that explains the national holiday; the awesome photos are coutesy of Michelle.  Enjoy!

In the sparking candlelight on the First of November, at cemeteries across the country of Poland, you will experience the reverent holiday of All Saints’ Day.  All Saints’ Day in Poland is the day where people gather together in what many around the world may consider the most unusual sort of way – with trips to cemeteries.  Lighting candles, telling family stories, sharing in laughter, love and prayers at the gravesides of their loved ones that have passed on ahead of those gathered are the most common ways the people in Poland spend their November 1.  Polish families travel across the entire country of Poland to reconnect on this day with their relatives in order to be closest to the familial graves of grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.  Preparing for All Saints’ Day in Poland, much like Thanksgiving as well, begins days before November 1.  Cleaning the tombstones of loved ones, raking the leaves surrounding it, polishing the names on the graves and sometimes lying fresh flowers ahead of time are just a few ways that Polish people prepare for All Saints’ Day.  Other ways Polish people prepare for the day is buying candles to light and leave at the graves, as well as cleaning their homes and preparing traditional meals to share with their entire families after the evening graveside visits. 

Note: We did notice that all of the leaves were raked up, and there are a ton of leaves on the ground this time of year, and the gravesites were in nice order.  Clearly loved ones or local workers spent a good amount of time cleaning this large cemetary.