All Souls' Day by William-Adolphe Bouguereau
In Christianity, All Souls' Day commemorates the faithful departed, in particular (but not exclusively) one's relatives. In Western Christianity the annual celebration is now held on 2 November and is associated with the three days of Allhallowtide, including All Saints' Day (1 November) and its vigil, Halloween (31 October).
In the liturgical books of the western Catholic Church (the Latin Church) it is called the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (Latin: Commemoratio omnium Fidelium Defunctorum), and is celebrated annually on 2 November. In the ordinary form and Divine Worship form of the Roman Rite, it remains on 2 November if this date falls on a Sunday; in the extraordinary form, it is transferred to Monday, 3 November. On this day in particular, Catholics pray for the dead. In Anglicanism it is called Commemoration of All Faithful Departed and is an optional celebration; Anglicans view All Souls' Day as an extension of the observance of All Saints' Day and it serves to "remember those who have died", in connection with the theological doctrines of the resurrection of the body and the Communion of Saints. In the Eastern Orthodox Church and the associated Eastern Catholic Churches, it is celebrated several times during the year and is not associated with the month of November.
Beliefs and practices associated with All Souls' Day vary widely among Christian churches and denominations.
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All Souls Day: Traditions from around the world
Catholics around the world celebrate the Day of the Dead around November 2 in connection with the holy days of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. All Souls' Day is a day to remember the souls of people who have died. Rituals include the offering of mass for the dead, visiting family graves and commemorating lost loved ones. In Mexico, the Day of the Dead is an event when people hold candlelight vigils and leave food out for deceased relatives.
Filipinos flock to remember their departed loved ones on All Saints Day at North cemetery in Manila
An Andean dancer performs during Day of the Dead celebrations in Nueva Esperanza cemetery at Villa Maria, Lima, in 2013. Each year people visit the cemetery, one of Latin America's largest, to honour the dead
Nuns offer prayers at the cemetery of the Holy Rosary church to mark All Souls' Day in Dhaka
Women with faces painted to look like the popular Mexican figure called "Catrina" are seen in Zapopan, Mexico
People visit the "Nueva Esperanza" (New Hope) cemetery during the Day of the Dead celebrations on the outskirts of Lima on 1 November 2014. Thousands of people visit cemeteries during the annual holiday in Peru to honour the dead
A family member displays flowers and candles next to a relative's grave in a cemetery during All Souls' Day in Khartoum
A man repaints the tomb of his departed loved one at the Manila South Public Cemetery in Pasay City, metro Manila October 30, 2015. Thousands are expected to flock to the different cemeteries in metro capital to visit their departed loved ones for All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, which will be held on November 1 and 2 respectively
Catholics in the Czech Republic mark All Souls Day on November 2 by visiting the graves of loved ones. People pray and light candles at the Olsany cemetery in Prague on 2 November 2014
People stand near the graves of relatives at San Andres cemetery in Mixquic in 2014. On the Day of the Dead, Mexicans pay homage to their dead relatives by preparing meals and decorating their graves. The festival has its origins in a pre-Hispanic Aztec belief that the dead return to Earth one day each year to visit their loved ones
A child reacts while touching a skeleton model, which is part of an art installation to celebrate the Day of the Dead, in Zocalo Square, Mexico City
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