All Souls' Day
| All Souls' Day | |
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_-_The_Day_of_the_Dead_(1859).jpg)
All Souls' Day by William-Adolphe Bouguereau
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| Also called | Feast of All Souls; Defuncts' Day; Day of Remembrance; Commemoration of the Faithful Departed |
| Observed by |
Roman Catholicism Eastern Orthodox Church various Anglican and Protestant denominations |
| Liturgical Color | Violet/purple or, where customary, black |
| Type | Christian |
| Significance | For the souls of all good who have passed |
| Observances | Prayer for the departed, visits to cemeteries, special meals |
| Date | (West) 2 (or 3) November (East) Several times during the year |
| Frequency | annual |
| Related to | Saturday of Souls, Thursday of the Dead, Day of the Dead, Halloween, All Saints' Day, Samhain, Totensonntag, Blue Christmas |
In Christianity, All Souls' Day commemorates the faithful departed, in particular (but not exclusively) one's relatives. In Western Christianity the annual celebration is now held on 2 November and is associated with the three days of Allhallowtide, including All Saints' Day (1 November) and its vigil, Halloween (31 October). In the liturgical books of the western Catholic Church (the Latin Church) it is called the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (Latin: Commemoratio omnium Fidelium Defunctorum), and is celebrated annually on 2 November. In the ordinary form and Divine Worship form of the Roman Rite, it remains on 2 November if this date falls on a Sunday; in the extraordinary form, it is transferred to Monday, 3 November. On this day in particular, Catholics pray for the dead. In Anglicanism it is called Commemoration of All Faithful Departed and is an optional celebration; Anglicans view All Souls' Day as an extension of the observance of All Saints' Day and it serves to "remember those who have died", in connection with the theological doctrines of the resurrection of the body and the Communion of Saints. In the Eastern Orthodox Church and the associated Eastern Catholic Churches, it is celebrated several times during the year and is not associated with the month of November.
Beliefs and practices associated with All Souls' Day vary widely among Christian churches and denominations.
Among Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine (Greek) Catholics, there are several All Souls' Days during the year. Most of these fall on Saturday, since Jesus lay in the Tomb on Holy Saturday. They occur on the following occasions:
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