Christian · worldwide · November 1, 2026

All Saints' Day

November 1 — the Christian feast for all the saints, known and unknown.

What happened

The feast honours every saint, including the ones nobody ever named. It was fixed to 1 November in the West in the eighth century. The evening before is All Hallows' Eve — which is where the word Halloween comes from. All Souls' Day follows on 2 November, for all the faithful departed.

Why it stuck

Three days sit together: the eve, the saints, the souls. Once a child sees that Halloween is the front porch of a much older three-day season, the whole thing makes more sense.

What a family can do

Light a candle for somebody. In many countries families spend the day at the cemetery, tidying and talking.

Questions to work through

1. Halloween, All Saints, All Souls. Put them in order and say what each is for.
2. Where does the word "Halloween" come from? Break it into its two parts.
3. Why would a feast be held for saints whose names nobody knows?