All Saints' Day

Name: All Saints' Day in International
Start: 20251101T00:00:00+00:00
End: 20251102T00:00:00+00:00
Location: PLACE

Category: Religious

Religious

All Saints' Day around the world in 2025

About All Saints' Day

How long until All Saints' Day?
All Saints' Day .
Dates of All Saints' Day
2026 InternationalNov 1 International Sun, Nov 1Observances Holiday 2025 InternationalNov 1 International Sat, Nov 1Observances Holiday 2024 InternationalNov 1 International Fri, Nov 1Observances Holiday 2023 InternationalNov 1 International Wed, Nov 1Observances Holiday 2022 InternationalNov 1 International Tue, Nov 1Observances Holiday
Summary
Pope Boniface IV dedicated the day as a holiday to honour the Blessed Virgin Mary and all martyrs

History of All Saints' Day

The origin of All Saints' Day may date back to a Greek Christian tradition from the 4th century, when a festival was held to honor saints and martyrs on the Sunday following Pentecost.

The first recorded All Saints’ Day occurred on 13 May 609 CE when Pope Boniface IV accepted the Pantheon in Rome as a gift from Emperor Phocas. The Pope dedicated the day as a holiday to honour the Blessed Virgin and all the martyrs.

In 835 CE, during the reign of Pope Gregory III, the festival was moved to 1st November and was expanded to include the honouring of all saints. It is likely that 1st November was intentionally chosen to replace the pagan feast of the dead, Samhain. The night before Samhain was a time when evil spirits roamed the land looking for humans. To confuse the spirits, people would dress up as creatures. This tradition carried on after 1 November became a Christian festival, hence the name of Halloween - which is a shortened version of All Hallows' Eve.

All Saints Day around the world

Finland, Sweden

In Sweden, the Åland Islands and Finland, All Saints' Day is observed on the Saturday that falls between October 31st and November 6th. The rest of Europe commemorates All Saints Day on November 1st each year.