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All Saints Day: Time of Reflection

Published November 2nd, 2020 - 06:26 GMT

All Saints’ Day, also called All Hallows’ Day, Hallowmas, or Feast of All Saints, in the Christian church, a day commemorating all the saints of the church, both known and unknown, who have attained heaven. 

All Saints' Day is a celebration of all Christian saints, particularly those who have no special feast days of their own, in many Roman Catholic, Anglican and Protestant churches. In many western churches it is annually held November 1 and in many eastern churches it is celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost. It should not be confused with All Souls' Day, which is observed on November 2, and is dedicated to those who have died and not yet reached heaven.

Normally, many people would celebrate with families or friends, and maybe attend an event or parade. The coronavirus pandemic, of course, changes things. 

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A woman visits the grave of a relative at the cemetery of Casabermeja, southern Spain, on October 30, 2020 on the eve of All Saint's Day amid the coronavirus pandemic. JORGE GUERRERO / AFP

A woman visits the grave of a relative at the cemetery of Casabermeja, southern Spain, on October 30, 2020 on the eve of All Saint's Day amid the coronavirus pandemic. JORGE GUERRERO / AFP

A woman wearing a face mask disinfects her hands at the Alto de Sao Joao cemetery in Lisbon on October 30, 2020 on the eve of All Saints' Day amid the coronavirus pandemic. PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP

A woman wearing a face mask disinfects her hands at the Alto de Sao Joao cemetery in Lisbon on October 30, 2020 on the eve of All Saints' Day amid the coronavirus pandemic. PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP

Faithfuls gather near the central cross, where candles have been laid, at the Mirogoj Cemetery in Zagreb, on November 1, 2020 to mark All Saints' Day. Every year on All Saints' Day, Croatian citizens visit and arrange the graves of their families. This year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the usual crowds in cemeteries were absent, as citizens heeded the recommendation of the authorities to avoid mass gatherings. DENIS LOVROVIC / AFP

Faithfuls gather near the central cross, where candles have been laid, at the Mirogoj Cemetery in Zagreb, on November 1, 2020 to mark All Saints' Day. Every year on All Saints' Day, Croatian citizens visit and arrange the graves of their families. This year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the usual crowds in cemeteries were absent, as citizens heeded the recommendation of the authorities to avoid mass gatherings. DENIS LOVROVIC / AFP

Flowers are laid at the Cemetery of Villaluenga del Rosario near Cadiz on All Saints' Day on November 1, 2020. The Cemetery of Villaluenga is built on the ruins of the El Salvador Church which was burnt during the war of independence. CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP

Flowers are laid at the Cemetery of Villaluenga del Rosario near Cadiz on All Saints' Day on November 1, 2020. The Cemetery of Villaluenga is built on the ruins of the El Salvador Church which was burnt during the war of independence. CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP

A nun prays during the All Saints' Day mass at the Sacre-Coeur basilica (Sacred Heart Church), in Paris, on November 1, 2020 as France's security forces are on high alert for the All Saints Catholic holiday after a string of attacks blamed on suspected Islamists in recent weeks. THOMAS COEX / AFP

A nun prays during the All Saints' Day mass at the Sacre-Coeur basilica (Sacred Heart Church), in Paris, on November 1, 2020 as France's security forces are on high alert for the All Saints Catholic holiday after a string of attacks blamed on suspected Islamists in recent weeks. THOMAS COEX / AFP

A girl touches a grave at the Cemetery of Villaluenga del Rosario near Cadiz on All Saints' Day on November 1, 2020. The Cemetery of Villaluenga is built on the ruins of the El Salvador Church which was burnt during the war of independence. CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP

A girl touches a grave at the Cemetery of Villaluenga del Rosario near Cadiz on All Saints' Day on November 1, 2020. The Cemetery of Villaluenga is built on the ruins of the El Salvador Church which was burnt during the war of independence. CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP

A woman lights a candle as she visits a relative's tomb at a cemetery in Asuncion on November 1, 2020, on All Saints' Day. Municipal cemeteries in Paraguay will be open to the public only on November 1 and 2, during All Saints' Day and the Day of the Dead, amid the new coronavirus pandemic. NORBERTO DUARTE / AFP

A woman lights a candle as she visits a relative's tomb at a cemetery in Asuncion on November 1, 2020, on All Saints' Day. Municipal cemeteries in Paraguay will be open to the public only on November 1 and 2, during All Saints' Day and the Day of the Dead, amid the new coronavirus pandemic. NORBERTO DUARTE / AFP

Women visit a relative's tomb at a cemetery in Asuncion on November 1, 2020, on All Saints' Day. Municipal cemeteries in Paraguay will be open to the public only on November 1 and 2, during All Saints' Day and the Day of the Dead, amid the new coronavirus pandemic. NORBERTO DUARTE / AFP

Women visit a relative's tomb at a cemetery in Asuncion on November 1, 2020, on All Saints' Day. Municipal cemeteries in Paraguay will be open to the public only on November 1 and 2, during All Saints' Day and the Day of the Dead, amid the new coronavirus pandemic. NORBERTO DUARTE / AFP

A woman decorates a relative's grave at La Magdalena Pantheon, in San Pedro Cholula, Puebla state, Mexico, on November 1, 2020, on All Saints' Day, amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Local authorities have restricted the visit times and the number of visitors in cemeteries due to the pandemic. PEDRO PARDO / AFP

A woman decorates a relative's grave at La Magdalena Pantheon, in San Pedro Cholula, Puebla state, Mexico, on November 1, 2020, on All Saints' Day, amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Local authorities have restricted the visit times and the number of visitors in cemeteries due to the pandemic. PEDRO PARDO / AFP

A woman decorates a relative's grave with Mexican marigolds forming a cross at La Magdalena Pantheon, in San Pedro Cholula, Puebla state, Mexico, on November 1, 2020, on All Saints' Day, amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Local authorities have restricted the visit times and the number of visitors in cemeteries due to the pandemic. PEDRO PARDO / AFP

A woman decorates a relative's grave with Mexican marigolds forming a cross at La Magdalena Pantheon, in San Pedro Cholula, Puebla state, Mexico, on November 1, 2020, on All Saints' Day, amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Local authorities have restricted the visit times and the number of visitors in cemeteries due to the pandemic. PEDRO PARDO / AFP

Flower vendors sell Chrysanthemums in the center of Warsaw, Poland on November 1, 2020, while the polish government closed cemeteries due to COVID-19 restrictions two days before the All Saints' Day, preventing Poles from visiting their loved ones graves according to tradition. The Polish government announced on October 30, 2020 the closure of cemeteries for three days, around All Saints' Day, to curb the outbreak of new contaminations in the country. Wojtek RADWANSKI / AFP

Flower vendors sell Chrysanthemums in the center of Warsaw, Poland on November 1, 2020, while the polish government closed cemeteries due to COVID-19 restrictions two days before the All Saints' Day, preventing Poles from visiting their loved ones graves according to tradition. The Polish government announced on October 30, 2020 the closure of cemeteries for three days, around All Saints' Day, to curb the outbreak of new contaminations in the country. Wojtek RADWANSKI / AFP

Candles and flowers lay in front of the locked gate to Powazki cementary in Warsaw, Poland, on November 1, 2020, while the polish government closed cemeteries due to COVID-19 restrictions two days before the All Saints' Day, preventing Poles from visiting their loved ones graves according to tradition. The Polish government announced on October 30, 2020 the closure of cemeteries for three days, around All Saints' Day, to curb the outbreak of new contaminations in the country. Wojtek RADWANSKI / AFP

Candles and flowers lay in front of the locked gate to Powazki cementary in Warsaw, Poland, on November 1, 2020, while the polish government closed cemeteries due to COVID-19 restrictions two days before the All Saints' Day, preventing Poles from visiting their loved ones graves according to tradition. The Polish government announced on October 30, 2020 the closure of cemeteries for three days, around All Saints' Day, to curb the outbreak of new contaminations in the country. Wojtek RADWANSKI / AFP

View of COVID-19 victims pictures proyected on the Lima Cathedral during a candlelight open-air mass with no public at the Plaza de Armas Main Square, in Lima on November 1, 2020 in remembrance of the more than 34,000 deceased from the coronavirus pandemic in Peru. The mass was conducted during the commemoration of the All Saints' Day under the projected images of elderly, children, firefighters, nurses, policemen, military victims of COVID-19 in Peru. Since the pandemic arrived in marchs to the country mor

View of COVID-19 victims pictures proyected on the Lima Cathedral during a candlelight open-air mass with no public at the Plaza de Armas Main Square, in Lima on November 1, 2020 in remembrance of the more than 34,000 deceased from the coronavirus pandemic in Peru. The mass was conducted during the commemoration of the All Saints' Day under the projected images of elderly, children, firefighters, nurses, policemen, military victims of COVID-19 in Peru. Since the pandemic arrived in marchs to the country more than 904,900 cases and 34,529 deaths have been registered. Luka GONZALES / AFP

A woman visits the grave of a relative at the cemetery of Casabermeja, southern Spain, on October 30, 2020 on the eve of All Saint's Day amid the coronavirus pandemic. JORGE GUERRERO / AFP
A woman wearing a face mask disinfects her hands at the Alto de Sao Joao cemetery in Lisbon on October 30, 2020 on the eve of All Saints' Day amid the coronavirus pandemic. PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP
Faithfuls gather near the central cross, where candles have been laid, at the Mirogoj Cemetery in Zagreb, on November 1, 2020 to mark All Saints' Day. Every year on All Saints' Day, Croatian citizens visit and arrange the graves of their families. This year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the usual crowds in cemeteries were absent, as citizens heeded the recommendation of the authorities to avoid mass gatherings. DENIS LOVROVIC / AFP
Flowers are laid at the Cemetery of Villaluenga del Rosario near Cadiz on All Saints' Day on November 1, 2020. The Cemetery of Villaluenga is built on the ruins of the El Salvador Church which was burnt during the war of independence. CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP
A nun prays during the All Saints' Day mass at the Sacre-Coeur basilica (Sacred Heart Church), in Paris, on November 1, 2020 as France's security forces are on high alert for the All Saints Catholic holiday after a string of attacks blamed on suspected Islamists in recent weeks. THOMAS COEX / AFP
A girl touches a grave at the Cemetery of Villaluenga del Rosario near Cadiz on All Saints' Day on November 1, 2020. The Cemetery of Villaluenga is built on the ruins of the El Salvador Church which was burnt during the war of independence. CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP
A woman lights a candle as she visits a relative's tomb at a cemetery in Asuncion on November 1, 2020, on All Saints' Day. Municipal cemeteries in Paraguay will be open to the public only on November 1 and 2, during All Saints' Day and the Day of the Dead, amid the new coronavirus pandemic. NORBERTO DUARTE / AFP
Women visit a relative's tomb at a cemetery in Asuncion on November 1, 2020, on All Saints' Day. Municipal cemeteries in Paraguay will be open to the public only on November 1 and 2, during All Saints' Day and the Day of the Dead, amid the new coronavirus pandemic. NORBERTO DUARTE / AFP
A woman decorates a relative's grave at La Magdalena Pantheon, in San Pedro Cholula, Puebla state, Mexico, on November 1, 2020, on All Saints' Day, amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Local authorities have restricted the visit times and the number of visitors in cemeteries due to the pandemic. PEDRO PARDO / AFP
A woman decorates a relative's grave with Mexican marigolds forming a cross at La Magdalena Pantheon, in San Pedro Cholula, Puebla state, Mexico, on November 1, 2020, on All Saints' Day, amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Local authorities have restricted the visit times and the number of visitors in cemeteries due to the pandemic. PEDRO PARDO / AFP
Flower vendors sell Chrysanthemums in the center of Warsaw, Poland on November 1, 2020, while the polish government closed cemeteries due to COVID-19 restrictions two days before the All Saints' Day, preventing Poles from visiting their loved ones graves according to tradition. The Polish government announced on October 30, 2020 the closure of cemeteries for three days, around All Saints' Day, to curb the outbreak of new contaminations in the country. Wojtek RADWANSKI / AFP
Candles and flowers lay in front of the locked gate to Powazki cementary in Warsaw, Poland, on November 1, 2020, while the polish government closed cemeteries due to COVID-19 restrictions two days before the All Saints' Day, preventing Poles from visiting their loved ones graves according to tradition. The Polish government announced on October 30, 2020 the closure of cemeteries for three days, around All Saints' Day, to curb the outbreak of new contaminations in the country. Wojtek RADWANSKI / AFP
View of COVID-19 victims pictures proyected on the Lima Cathedral during a candlelight open-air mass with no public at the Plaza de Armas Main Square, in Lima on November 1, 2020 in remembrance of the more than 34,000 deceased from the coronavirus pandemic in Peru. The mass was conducted during the commemoration of the All Saints' Day under the projected images of elderly, children, firefighters, nurses, policemen, military victims of COVID-19 in Peru. Since the pandemic arrived in marchs to the country mor
A woman visits the grave of a relative at the cemetery of Casabermeja, southern Spain, on October 30, 2020 on the eve of All Saint's Day amid the coronavirus pandemic. JORGE GUERRERO / AFP
A woman visits the grave of a relative at the cemetery of Casabermeja, southern Spain, on October 30, 2020 on the eve of All Saint's Day amid the coronavirus pandemic. JORGE GUERRERO / AFP
A woman wearing a face mask disinfects her hands at the Alto de Sao Joao cemetery in Lisbon on October 30, 2020 on the eve of All Saints' Day amid the coronavirus pandemic. PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP
A woman wearing a face mask disinfects her hands at the Alto de Sao Joao cemetery in Lisbon on October 30, 2020 on the eve of All Saints' Day amid the coronavirus pandemic. PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP
Faithfuls gather near the central cross, where candles have been laid, at the Mirogoj Cemetery in Zagreb, on November 1, 2020 to mark All Saints' Day. Every year on All Saints' Day, Croatian citizens visit and arrange the graves of their families. This year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the usual crowds in cemeteries were absent, as citizens heeded the recommendation of the authorities to avoid mass gatherings. DENIS LOVROVIC / AFP
Faithfuls gather near the central cross, where candles have been laid, at the Mirogoj Cemetery in Zagreb, on November 1, 2020 to mark All Saints' Day. Every year on All Saints' Day, Croatian citizens visit and arrange the graves of their families. This year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the usual crowds in cemeteries were absent, as citizens heeded the recommendation of the authorities to avoid mass gatherings. DENIS LOVROVIC / AFP
Flowers are laid at the Cemetery of Villaluenga del Rosario near Cadiz on All Saints' Day on November 1, 2020. The Cemetery of Villaluenga is built on the ruins of the El Salvador Church which was burnt during the war of independence. CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP
Flowers are laid at the Cemetery of Villaluenga del Rosario near Cadiz on All Saints' Day on November 1, 2020. The Cemetery of Villaluenga is built on the ruins of the El Salvador Church which was burnt during the war of independence. CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP
A nun prays during the All Saints' Day mass at the Sacre-Coeur basilica (Sacred Heart Church), in Paris, on November 1, 2020 as France's security forces are on high alert for the All Saints Catholic holiday after a string of attacks blamed on suspected Islamists in recent weeks. THOMAS COEX / AFP
A nun prays during the All Saints' Day mass at the Sacre-Coeur basilica (Sacred Heart Church), in Paris, on November 1, 2020 as France's security forces are on high alert for the All Saints Catholic holiday after a string of attacks blamed on suspected Islamists in recent weeks. THOMAS COEX / AFP
A girl touches a grave at the Cemetery of Villaluenga del Rosario near Cadiz on All Saints' Day on November 1, 2020. The Cemetery of Villaluenga is built on the ruins of the El Salvador Church which was burnt during the war of independence. CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP
A girl touches a grave at the Cemetery of Villaluenga del Rosario near Cadiz on All Saints' Day on November 1, 2020. The Cemetery of Villaluenga is built on the ruins of the El Salvador Church which was burnt during the war of independence. CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP
A woman lights a candle as she visits a relative's tomb at a cemetery in Asuncion on November 1, 2020, on All Saints' Day. Municipal cemeteries in Paraguay will be open to the public only on November 1 and 2, during All Saints' Day and the Day of the Dead, amid the new coronavirus pandemic. NORBERTO DUARTE / AFP
A woman lights a candle as she visits a relative's tomb at a cemetery in Asuncion on November 1, 2020, on All Saints' Day. Municipal cemeteries in Paraguay will be open to the public only on November 1 and 2, during All Saints' Day and the Day of the Dead, amid the new coronavirus pandemic. NORBERTO DUARTE / AFP
Women visit a relative's tomb at a cemetery in Asuncion on November 1, 2020, on All Saints' Day. Municipal cemeteries in Paraguay will be open to the public only on November 1 and 2, during All Saints' Day and the Day of the Dead, amid the new coronavirus pandemic. NORBERTO DUARTE / AFP
Women visit a relative's tomb at a cemetery in Asuncion on November 1, 2020, on All Saints' Day. Municipal cemeteries in Paraguay will be open to the public only on November 1 and 2, during All Saints' Day and the Day of the Dead, amid the new coronavirus pandemic. NORBERTO DUARTE / AFP
A woman decorates a relative's grave at La Magdalena Pantheon, in San Pedro Cholula, Puebla state, Mexico, on November 1, 2020, on All Saints' Day, amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Local authorities have restricted the visit times and the number of visitors in cemeteries due to the pandemic. PEDRO PARDO / AFP
A woman decorates a relative's grave at La Magdalena Pantheon, in San Pedro Cholula, Puebla state, Mexico, on November 1, 2020, on All Saints' Day, amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Local authorities have restricted the visit times and the number of visitors in cemeteries due to the pandemic. PEDRO PARDO / AFP
A woman decorates a relative's grave with Mexican marigolds forming a cross at La Magdalena Pantheon, in San Pedro Cholula, Puebla state, Mexico, on November 1, 2020, on All Saints' Day, amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Local authorities have restricted the visit times and the number of visitors in cemeteries due to the pandemic. PEDRO PARDO / AFP
A woman decorates a relative's grave with Mexican marigolds forming a cross at La Magdalena Pantheon, in San Pedro Cholula, Puebla state, Mexico, on November 1, 2020, on All Saints' Day, amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Local authorities have restricted the visit times and the number of visitors in cemeteries due to the pandemic. PEDRO PARDO / AFP
Flower vendors sell Chrysanthemums in the center of Warsaw, Poland on November 1, 2020, while the polish government closed cemeteries due to COVID-19 restrictions two days before the All Saints' Day, preventing Poles from visiting their loved ones graves according to tradition. The Polish government announced on October 30, 2020 the closure of cemeteries for three days, around All Saints' Day, to curb the outbreak of new contaminations in the country. Wojtek RADWANSKI / AFP
Flower vendors sell Chrysanthemums in the center of Warsaw, Poland on November 1, 2020, while the polish government closed cemeteries due to COVID-19 restrictions two days before the All Saints' Day, preventing Poles from visiting their loved ones graves according to tradition. The Polish government announced on October 30, 2020 the closure of cemeteries for three days, around All Saints' Day, to curb the outbreak of new contaminations in the country. Wojtek RADWANSKI / AFP
Candles and flowers lay in front of the locked gate to Powazki cementary in Warsaw, Poland, on November 1, 2020, while the polish government closed cemeteries due to COVID-19 restrictions two days before the All Saints' Day, preventing Poles from visiting their loved ones graves according to tradition. The Polish government announced on October 30, 2020 the closure of cemeteries for three days, around All Saints' Day, to curb the outbreak of new contaminations in the country. Wojtek RADWANSKI / AFP
Candles and flowers lay in front of the locked gate to Powazki cementary in Warsaw, Poland, on November 1, 2020, while the polish government closed cemeteries due to COVID-19 restrictions two days before the All Saints' Day, preventing Poles from visiting their loved ones graves according to tradition. The Polish government announced on October 30, 2020 the closure of cemeteries for three days, around All Saints' Day, to curb the outbreak of new contaminations in the country. Wojtek RADWANSKI / AFP
View of COVID-19 victims pictures proyected on the Lima Cathedral during a candlelight open-air mass with no public at the Plaza de Armas Main Square, in Lima on November 1, 2020 in remembrance of the more than 34,000 deceased from the coronavirus pandemic in Peru. The mass was conducted during the commemoration of the All Saints' Day under the projected images of elderly, children, firefighters, nurses, policemen, military victims of COVID-19 in Peru. Since the pandemic arrived in marchs to the country mor
View of COVID-19 victims pictures proyected on the Lima Cathedral during a candlelight open-air mass with no public at the Plaza de Armas Main Square, in Lima on November 1, 2020 in remembrance of the more than 34,000 deceased from the coronavirus pandemic in Peru. The mass was conducted during the commemoration of the All Saints' Day under the projected images of elderly, children, firefighters, nurses, policemen, military victims of COVID-19 in Peru. Since the pandemic arrived in marchs to the country more than 904,900 cases and 34,529 deaths have been registered. Luka GONZALES / AFP

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