How Do You Celebrate All Saints Day In Portugal?
On November 1 of every year the people of Portugal celebrate the Feast of All Saints. Known also as All Saints Day, the holiday is designated by the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches as a day to commemorate of the saints. It was initially celebrated in May but in many Western countries All Saints Day was moved to November 1 to counteract the pagan holiday of Halloween. Since the traditional Portuguese Halloween (dia das bruxas) is celebrated in May, in Portugal All Saints Day is a holiday that stands on its own. It’s a national holiday, a day to celebrate with a traditional festival, called a festa. Join one of the many national processions, during which the faithful proceed to local cemeteries. There they will place offerings of flowers on the graves of deceased relatives. In some villages in Portugal, people will carry small lights through the streets on the way to the grave sites. Once there it’s not uncommon for relatives to stay most of the day “visiting” with their dead. Atten
