All Saints’ Day in Spain

On November 1st the Spanish celebrate their dearly departed, better known as All Saints’ Day and also a Spanish national holiday, so be aware that there will be very few, if any, shops open.

As people from all over the country return to the towns or villages where deceased relatives lie in rest and place flowers on their graves in remembrance, All Saints’ Day is considered a very important religious day in the Spanish calendar.

Graveyards will be full of flowers, the roads leading to them can become very busy with traffic, flower sellers line the streets and additional public transport services are laid on in some places.

All Saints’ Day is usually a day of high emotion and the Mass can be performed several times a day in cemeteries, such is the popularity of this occasion. Another tradition associated with this day is the play Don Juan Tenorio, which is performed all over Spain.

All Saints’ Day is a display and a reminder of just how important religion and families are to the people of Spain.