Why there's a holiday on Saturday in the Southwest - All Saints' Day: A Quiet Reflection in Germany
All Saints’ Day, a Christian holiday honouring saints, is celebrated on November 1 in several German states, including Baden-Württemberg. It's a 'quiet' public holiday with restrictions on dance events, and stores typically close, except for essential services and bakeries selling rolls for a few hours. People traditionally visit graves, light candles, and decorate burial sites.
All Saints’ Day, also known as All Hallows' Day, is a time to remember and celebrate all saints, both known and unknown, who have lived holy lives and are part of the community of the faithful departed. It's a solemnity in the Roman Catholic Church, falling on the first day of November. In the following year, it will fall on a Sunday.
While it's a public holiday in many places, including Austria, Belgium, Spain, France, and Italy, it's classified as 'quiet' or 'silent' in Germany. This means dance events are restricted, and the day is more about reflection and remembrance than celebration.
On All Saints’ Day, people traditionally honour the saints by visiting graves, lighting candles, and decorating burial sites. Stores remain closed, with the exception of pharmacies, restaurants, and train station kiosks, though hours may be reduced. Bakeries may sell rolls for a few hours. The holiday is a time of remembrance and celebration, not just of the deceased, but of all those who have lived saintly lives.
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