What is the history behind all saints and All Souls’ Day

This holiday originates in the Christian tradition, which celebrates all who have died, especially the martyrs and the saints.

Many people know what All Souls’ Day is, but no one really knows where it came from. All Saints’ Day falls on the first Sunday after November 1 every year, when everyone remembers their own family members who have died over the past year. 

In the 10th century, St. Odilo, a Catholic priest in Cluny, France instituted All Souls’ Day as a day to pray for the souls of deceased family members. The annual celebration became the final and third day of All Hallows’ Eve and All Saints’ Day.

While All Saints Day may be celebrated today, its origin can not be traced with certainty. We know that Pope Boniface IV established what would later be known as All Saints Day on May 13 in 609 AD when he dedicated the Pantheon in Rome as a church in honor of the Virgin Mary and all martyrs.

All Saints’ Day honors all saints and blesses those who have died. It’s no coincidence that the term “saint” ultimately derives from the Hebrew word “Shema,” which literally means “holy one” or “saint.” For those of the Catholic faith, the day also includes prayers for Christians who have died in the past year.

The holidays, days of remembrance, and traditions passed down from generation to generation all come together to help us remember and appreciate the effect our loved ones have had on us. They are not forgotten, they are not gone. They are part of who we are, and we are better for it.