All Saints' Day
Description:
The Feast of All Saints was introduced at the beginning of the VII century by Pope Boniface IV, and later, at the beginning of the XI century, the Day of Remembrance of the Dead was established, over time they merged into one holiday - "Saints and the Dead".
On this day, all saints are commemorated, both officially canonized and unknown to many. The Day of All Saints smoothly passes into the Day of All the Dead, celebrated on the second of November. On the second of November, in the morning they go to the cemetery, often with prayers and chants in a general procession, put the graves in order and put burning candles. A large number of memorial candles is a symbol of this holiday.
Various forms of commemoration of the dead have taken root in folk traditions. For drowned people, wreaths are everywhere lowered on this day. In many places in Austria there is a custom to give bread. In Tyrol, it is customary to put food on the table for “poor souls” on the night and on the day of commemoration of the dead and light candles.
The Day of All Saints and the Day of Remembrance of the Dead are connected with many other beliefs and legends. It was believed, for example, that one who crawls under the descending branches of black currant on that night will see the shadow of the girl he is destined to marry. Another belief claimed that the player who on this day hides under the processes of the blackcurrant bush and calls for the help of the Prince of Darkness will always have luck in the cards.