Spanish Halloween

On November 1, Spain celebrates the Feast of All Saints (Día de Todos los Santos), the origin of which in the Catholic Church dates back almost 1300 years ago. This is a special day in the calendar when deceased loved ones are honored. A day when cemeteries are flooded with people who come to visit and remember their people, decorating graves with flowers.

The initiator of this celebration was Pope Gregory III, who during his tenure as pontiff (731-741) consecrated the chapel in St. Peter's Basilica in honor of all Saints. Thus, it was required that all saints be venerated at least one day a year. Years later, in the middle of the ninth century, Pope Gregory IV during the time of Louis the Pious (Emperor of the West and king of the Franks) extended this celebration to the entire church in 835. It is believed that the date of November 1 was chosen because it coincided with the holiday of the Germanic peoples, and in those years the goal of the Catholic Church was to abandon pagan holidays. As a rule, these days the relics of saints that are located between their walls are exhibited in cathedrals. After the commemoration, of course, there is a feast in the families, since this is an official day off.