All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day observance moved in Finland

cemetery(2014) In the Catholic liturgical calendar, All Saints’ Day (Omnium Sanctorum) falls on the first day of November, and All Souls’ Day (Omnium Fidelium Defunctorum) falls on the second day of November.

However, as Lutheran practice has influenced the secular calendar in Finland, both of these days have been integrated. This “pyhäinpäivä” or “Saints’ Day” is observed on the Saturday falling between October 31 and November 6. Traditionally, Finns then visit the cemeteries to remember their deceased relatives, and to light candles at the graves.

Due to this public occurrence, the Catholic Church in Finland has also made some changes in her local liturgical calendar. Therefore, All Souls’ Day is observed in Finland on the same Saturday as the secular/Lutheran “Saints’ Day”, and the Solemnity of All Saints on the following Sunday.

This year in the Catholic Church in Finland, All Souls’ Day is observed on Saturday, Nov. 1st, and All Saints’ Day on Sunday, Nov. 2nd.

KATT