Ever get confused about when to visit your deceased relatives? All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day are often mixed up because they fall so close together — but which comes first?

All Saints’ Day, observed on 1 November, comes first. This day honors all the known and unknown saints of the Church, who are believed to be in heaven. It is a time to reflect on their lives, attend Mass, and offer prayers.

Following this, All Souls’ Day is commemorated on 2 November.

This day is dedicated to praying for the souls of the departed. Traditions include visiting cemeteries, lighting candles, bringing flowers, and offering Masses for the dead. Catholics also pray for souls in purgatory during this time, believing that they are undergoing final purification before entering heaven.

The reason for their proximity

Originally, these two consecutive Christian holidays were part of a larger triduum — a three-day period that begins with All Hallows’ Eve, now widely known as Halloween, celebrated on 31 October. All Hallows’ Eve serves as a vigil in preparation for the celebrations on 1 and 2 November.

The Celts believed that on Samhain, spirits could return to earth and that the line between the living and the dead was blurred.

They dressed in costumes and built bonfires to protect themselves, which is why Halloween is celebrated with costumes today.

Moreover, the living, the departed in purgatory, and the saints in heaven are all part of the communion of saints, which explains why these two celebrations are observed so close together.