The big holidays for Catholics are All Saints Day and Memorial Day, following one after another - November 1 and 2. The Feast of All Saints was introduced at the beginning of the 7th century. drink Boniface IV, and later, at the beginning of the XI century. the Day of Remembrance of the Dead was established. Over time, both holidays merged into one; in some countries it is called "Saints and the Departed".
The Catholic Church considers the commemoration of the departed to be an obligatory duty of all believers. People should remember those who have passed away and are in purgatory, and pray for them. The good deeds of the living can also shorten the period of stay in purgatory.
In Italy, the whole country is resting on this day. Not only government agencies are closed, but even shops and cafes. The Italians spend the first day in the church. In the second, in the morning, they go to the cemetery to visit the graves of loved ones and pray for the souls of the dead. At noon, the priests serve in the cemeteries of the requiem. It is customary to spend the afternoon at home, with your family, at a table with a hearty meal.
For a long time, the ritual food of this day was preserved - beans. The custom of eating beans, remembering the dead, has existed in Italy since pre-Christian Rome. Over time, the beans began to be distributed among the poor, who commemorated the souls of the dead for this. Beans as a memorial food are called "beans of the dead" in Italy. Nowadays, this name is known for sweets that look like beans. They became an obligatory ritual treat on November 2.
In France, various prohibitions were strictly observed on All Saints' Day. Even cleaning the house was considered reprehensible. These days they did not wash, "so as not to bring death to someone from the family." You couldn't bake bread, go on a trip, or leave your home at night. Even children were forbidden to play and make noise. It was not customary to arrange weddings during November.
Some magical actions were also performed on this day: they wrapped the trunks of trees with straw so that they would bring a large harvest of fruit.
In our time, this day is celebrated as a day of remembrance for the dead. French families come to the cemetery to honor the memory of loved ones.
In Spain, on this day, they held a joint meal, to which members of the village council were invited. A roast sheep and a couple of jugs of wine were displayed for the residents. Usually only men took part in such meals, sometimes only bachelors. Women in black dresses and black headscarves walked the streets and houses, praying loudly for the souls of the dead.
Promotional video:
In past centuries, at the beginning of November, a play about Don Juan was staged at the theater, where remorse before death helped him save his soul.
In Catalonia, children run around the houses of relatives and friends in the morning, asking for chestnuts and fruits. There is a custom in Navarre: after the Mass, the priest throws small coins, which the guys happily grab.
In Belgium many years ago, a dinner was held in the churchyard on this day. After a short prayer, games, songs and dances began. At midnight, people returned home through the cemetery and lit straw crosses.
Memorial ritual food - first of all pancakes, cookies, muffins. They baked special bread, cookies, gingerbread for the souls of the dead. And “the more cakes you eat that night, the more souls you can get rid of purgatory” - so they said in Belgium.
In Germany, on the eve of the day, all souls went to the cemetery, lit candles on the graves. Until the 20th century, the belief was preserved that the souls of the dead appear on the night of November 1 to 2 after a solemn funeral service. Therefore, milk with rolls crumbled into it and a concoction of dried fruits were put on the table at night. I believe that cold milk will somewhat "refresh" the souls that have come from the heat. Figured bread, baked especially for "poor souls", was also placed on the table. A lighted lamp was placed on the stove. The burning oil was considered a sacrifice.
Back in the 1920s, old Cologne families were left with a light on the evening before All Souls Day to burn all night. Legend has it that you cannot put a knife with the blade up and put an empty pan on the fire, so as not to hurt souls.
The end of autumn entered the Austrian folk calendar as a time of remembrance for the dead. On this day, each family tried to bake as many loaves of bread as possible. They were given to relatives and friends. There was a custom: a girl's acceptance of bread from a guy meant sympathy on her part. Large wheat bread was also obligatory, a piece of which was received by each family member, which emphasized their solidarity. Cakes in the form of animal figurines have also become widespread.
At night in Tyrol and Carinthia, they opened the doors of rooms so that the "dead could enter", stoked stoves to keep them warm, melted lard and oil on the fire "to lubricate their wounds," and removed sharp objects.
In Switzerland, in the canton of Valls, the inhabitants of several villages together baked flat loaves of rye flour and made cheese. Then everyone gathered in the square to get their share.
Numerous legends tell of the appearance of the dead. Their presence was felt in the noise of the wind, creaks, and wandering lights.
Food was put on the street, and especially on the graves and along the roads, so that the dead could refresh themselves on the way.
In Croatia, a shepherd's holiday was timed to coincide with All Saints Day. The hostesses paid the shepherds by giving them gifts. In some areas, shepherds carried a rooster with them to the pasture and prepared a ritual dish from it.
On this day, the procession of people, together with the priest, went to the cemetery, where they blessed the graves that had been cleaned in advance. Large and small candles were often lit. Cabbage stumps or turnips served as a stand for small candles. They believed that this would give a good harvest next year.
From the book: "100 Great Holidays". Elena Olegovna Chekulaeva