Communities in different parts of the globe hold different traditions on how to celebrate All Souls’ Day. This religious and spiritual holiday is an occasion for honoring departed loved ones, as the dead are still an important part of life. This celebration shows how deceased loved ones are remembered and valued despite having passed on. Practices like mass and flower offerings, grave visits, and family gatherings are typically associated with this celebration.
How do we celebrate All Souls’ Day? Discover the common customs for how to honor the dead and keep them in the memories of the living.
When is All Souls’ Day?
All Souls’ Day is celebrated by Catholics worldwide on November 2nd. On this day, faithfuls celebrate and remember the dearly departed. It is also a good opportunity to gather and pray for the purification of souls in purgatory. Souls are commemorated through prayer, special masses, food or monetary offerings, or cemetery visits. This solemn holiday is celebrated in unique ways all throughout the world, including the Philippines.
6 Ways on How to Remember the Dead This All Souls’ Day
1. Gather with family
All Souls’ Day is one of the celebrations that reunite family and relatives from different locations. It is common for family members to visit graves together, decorate graves, and share meals together during their stay. In the Philippines, cemetery visits can extend from a few hours up to two or three days.
This is the perfect opportunity to catch up with relatives and exchange stories about the deceased. Looking back on memories with the dead allows family members to relive cherished moments with them, ensuring that they are never forgotten.
2. Pay a visit to the cemetery, columbary, or grave
Visiting your loved one at their resting place is one of the intimate ways on how to honor the dead. Paying a visit helps you reminisce their presence the same way as when they were still living. It also allows you to convey your prayers and wishes personally, as well as to gather with close family and friends of the deceased.
3. Restore and decorate the deceased’s tomb
Part of every visit to a deceased loved one’s grave is the cleaning process. This touching gesture is practiced not just to show respect, but also to remember the dead. Graves can be cleaned, repainted, or even decorated with sympathy flowers, candles, and other ornaments related to the life of the deceased, such as their favorite items or food.
4. Offer flowers and food
Floral offerings like funeral flowers or urn arrangements are often used to adorn graves and altars during All Souls’ Day. Flowers play a deep spiritual and emotional role for this particular celebration. Common floral offerings involve the following:
- Mums – Symbolize grief, remembrance of the dead, and longevity
- Roses – Represent neverending love and respect
- Forget-Me-Nots – Honors positive memories you had with a deceased loved one
- Marigolds – Bright golden hues are said to guide souls to their homes
Sympathy flowers can come in various eye-catching arrangements, like bouquets, baskets, and wreaths. The wide range of arrangements can give you endless ideas on how to remember the dead through vibrant decor.
5. Offer a mass or prayer
A special mass offering is one of the religious traditions that guide people on how to honor the dead. The church accepts mass intentions a month or a few weeks before All Souls’ Day, and dedicates the celebration to these souls. By offering a mass, families can pray together for the repose of souls and help them ascend to heaven.
6. Light candles
Lighting a candle for the deceased can be done anywhere, such as the church, next to a grave or niche, or even at a home altar. It is a beautiful way of remembering souls, how they will never be forgotten or left behind. When done alongside a prayer, it also symbolizes the hope imparted upon departed loved ones, that they will be able to find the light that leads them to eternal rest.
By practicing the different ways on how to honor the dead, you can maintain a strong bond or connection with their spirit and the good memories shared with them. This annual celebration is significant to extending hope that the dearly departed will eventually find peace and rest.
ALSO READ: Tips for Choosing Memorial Flowers for All Soul’s Day
Order flowers for All Souls’ Day ahead of time at the Flower Patch Shop. Choose from a gorgeous selection of memorial flowers for your departed loved one, including white roses, mums, lilies, carnations, and more. We also offer same-day flower delivery in Makati, Pasig, Ortigas, Alabang, and Quezon City, as well as nearby places like Bulacan and Laguna. Place your custom flower bouquet order today.
