All Saints' Day

All Saints' Day in United Kingdom, for the years 2018, 2019 and 2020.

United Kingdom	2018	2019	2020
All Saints' Day	Thursday 1st November	Friday 1st November	Sunday 1st November

All Saints' Day in the UK

All Saints' Day or All Hallows' Day is commonly celebrated by Christians especially Roman Catholics on November 1 all over the world.

All Saints' Day in the UK

The origin of All Hallows' Day is a question mark. Some sources claim that the celebration was due to the Feast of Lemures, which was observed by ancient Romans. Other sources attribute it to Samhain, the Celtic festival of the dead. But what is known for a surety is that Pope Gregory IV authorised the All Saints' Day celebration on November 1 in 837AD, marking it as a holiday.

Significance of All Saints' Day on November 1

The day is widely celebrated to pay respect to all the Christians who died as martyrs or saints, famous or unknown. All the Christians who devoted their lives for the sake of Christianity or Church are recognised on the 1st November. In accordance with Christian faith, the spiritual bond between those who have attained beatific vision and those still living on Earth is strengthened on November 1.

How Is All Hallows' Day Celebrated on November 1 in the UK?

Made famous as Hallowmas by William Shakespeare, All Saints' Day is normally observed right after Halloween and a day before All Souls' Day. All Souls' Day was established by Odilo, Cluny's Abbot in 998AD. It marks the day of observation for the restless souls that have not purged their sins fully yet and seek the beatific vision. Symbols like a sheaf of wheat, Rayed Manus Dei (the hand of God) and a crown are commonly used during All Saints' Day festival. Using symbols that are meant for particular saints on November 1 is also normal. The liturgical colour is white. Special prayers are usually conducted on All Saints' Day in Roman Catholic churches and some Anglican churches. In the UK, Hallowmas, which falls on November 1 is normally a bank holiday.