Cemeteries Cemeteries and bus schedules in Madrid on November 1, All Saints’ Day
November 1, 2023like every year, happens All Saints’ Daya celebration that dates back centuries.
The exact origins are uncertain, but since 313, the year in which the Edict of Milanwhere by this the Christianity in it Roman Empirea commMilan wherel was established in different places of All Saints. For example, in the city of Edessa, now Turkey, it happened on May 13, while in the West a commemoration is held on the first Sunday after Pentecost.
This is due to the need to establish a festival to honor the many martyrs who came out of the persecutions suffered by Christians, such as that of Emperor Dioceclan (284-305), also called the Great Persecution.
Speaking of November 1 date according to some accounts, Pope Gregory III (731-741) dedicated that day a chapel in the Basilica of Saint Peter in honor of All Saints. This led to the date becoming the official day celebration date in Rome.
Regarding its establishment in all places, Pope Gregory IV (827-844) officially declared in the year 835 November 1 as the Feast of All SSaints whichat that time was celebrated on May 13.
According to some theories, the choice was not arbitrary, because it was aimed at ending another pagan celebration that coincided with this same date.
CONFUSION ON THE DAY OF THE TRUE DEAD
It often happens that the All Saints’ Day with the Day of the Faithful Dead also known as the Day of the Dead or Day of the Souls. However, these are different celebrations.
All Souls’ Day is celebrated on November 2 and honoring the memory of those who no longer continue in earthly life. The Church intends to dedicate this day to prayer for all souls.
ALL SAINTS’ DAYS IN SPAIN
Beyond the tradition of going to the cemetery on All Saints’ Day To bring flowers to the deceased, some Spanish regions and towns celebrate this day with different festivals.
In the Canary Islands, the Finaos festival Gathers the family around the table where stories and anecdotes about the deceased are remembered. In Galicia, the Basque Country or Catalonia, chestnuts are roasted in the fire under the traditions of Samhain, Youth Day, and the festival of Chestnut .
On the other hand, in the municipality of BEGGING (Jan) one of the most amazing celebrations took place. The residents of that town go out to the streets to cover the locks of their houses with porridge because in the past it was believed that this was how to scare away evil spirits.
