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Table of Contents
All Saints’ Day is a Christian holiday dedicated to honor and commemorate the saints. It is also known as All Hallows’ Day or the Feast of All Saints. It is observed yearly on November 1 by the Western Churches and on the first Sunday of the Pentecost by the Eastern Churches.
See the fact file below for more information on the All Saints’ Day or alternatively, you can download our 23-page All Saints’ Day worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
Definition
- All Saints’ Day celebrates both known and unknown saints.
- Saints are those who are believed to have reached heaven.
- It is a holiday rooted in the belief that the world is spiritually connected to heaven.
- All Saints’ Day is considered a holy day of obligation, requiring Catholics to attend Mass.
- It is celebrated on November 1 by the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, and Protestant Churches.
- It is celebrated on the first Sunday of the Pentecost by Eastern Orthodox Churches.
- It is an official public holiday in Catholic countries.
- It is not an official public holiday in the US, the UK, Canada, and Australia.
- Other names for it are All Hallows’ Day, Feast of All Saints, Solemnity of All Saints, and Hallowmas.
- It is the second part of Allhallowtide which lasts from October 31 to November 2.
- Hallow means “holy” in Old English.
- All Saints’ Day is not the same as All Souls’ Day. All Souls’ Day is dedicated to those who still have not reached heaven.
Historical Background
- Back when the Roman Empire persecuted Christians, a lot of martyrs died for their faith.
- A Greek Christian festival in the early fourth century was dedicated to honoring martyrs. It is believed to have ushered in All Saints’ Day.
- In 609 A.D., under Pope Boniface IV, the first All Saints’ Day is celebrated on May 13. He dedicated the Pantheon to the Virgin Mary and the Martyrs.
- In 837 A.D., Pope Gregory III made All Saints’ Day a holiday on November 1.
- It officially became a holy day of obligation under King Louis the Pious.
- People held vigils on the evening of October 31 to prepare for All Saints’ Day.
- The Church in Ireland celebrated it on April 20 so that it would not coincide with Samhain, a pagan festival.
- After the Protestant Reformation, Protestants stopped praying for the dead on All Saints’ Day. Instead, they commemorate the dead and those who have led holy lives on Earth.
- Methodists celebrate the day as a form of thanksgiving to God for the saints.
- Shakespeare coined the term “Hallowmas”.
- White is the liturgical color of All Saints’ Day.
- Common symbols associated with All Saints’ Day are images or sculptures of saints, Manus Dei (the hand of God), the crown, and a sheaf of wheat.
Customs Around the World
- In the United States, the day comes after the night of Halloween. It is not so much a religious tradition as much as it has become a cultural one.
- In Mexico, All Saints’ Day lasts for one week. It falls on the first day of the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) celebration.
- Mexicans hold parades and festivals at this time.
- In some Hispanic countries, like Spain, Mexico, and Portugal, the play “Don Juan Tenorio” is traditionally performed.
- In Portugal, children go door to door for candy on All Saints’ Day.
- Throughout Europe, flowers are offered on graves.
- In Eastern Europe, instead of giving flowers, people light candles.
- In the Philippines and France, people restore and repaint the tombs of their loved ones.
- If the holiday doesn’t fall on a Sunday, some countries waive the obligation of Catholics to attend mass.
- On this day, a reading of the Beatitudes is traditionally done.
- Hymns like “For All the Saints” and “I Sing a Song of the Saints of God” are traditionally sung.
- The football team New Orleans Saints got its name from the dominant Catholic population in the state.
- In an All Saints’ Day feast, soul cakes and Irish bread with fruit are commonly served.
Famous Saints
- St. Peter is a fisherman who became the head of the Church.
- St. Paul of Tarsus, formerly named Saul, persecuted Christians before he became a preacher of the Gospel.
- St. Francis of Assisi established the Order of Friars Minor called Franciscans. He was blessed with stigmata, the five wounds of Christ.
- St. Dominic founded the Order of Friars Preachers known as Dominicans. His motto is the Latin word veritas meaning ‘truth’.
- St. Anthony of Padua was called the “Hammer of Heretics” because of his oratory skills. He is the patron saint of lost objects.
- St. Thomas Aquinas is dubbed as the greatest intellectual mind of the Church. He is known for writing the Summa Theologica and composing for Corpus Christi.
- St. Patrick of Ireland successfully converted paganism to Christianity during his time as a bishop in Ireland.
- St. Therese of Lisieux is a Carmelite who entered the monastery at a young age and showed great spiritual maturity.
All Saints’ Day Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about All Saints’ Day across 23 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use All Saints’ Day worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the All Saints’ Day which is a Christian holiday dedicated to honor and commemorate the saints. It is also known as All Hallows’ Day or the Feast of All Saints. It is observed yearly on November 1 by the Western Churches and on the first Sunday of the Pentecost by the Eastern Churches.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- All Saints’ Day Facts
- Holy Day
- Pair It Right
- Symbols of the Saints
- Order Of Events
- Saint Dictionary
- Famous Saints
- World Traditions
- The Beatitudes
- Class Production
- Remember, Remember
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is All Saints Day celebrated?
On the Solemnity of All Saints, November 1st, Catholics celebrate Christians who have grown spiritually. In addition, Catholics honor all the holy men and women canonized by the Church.
What is forbidden on All Saints Day?
On All Saints’ Day, people were not supposed to work. This was a way of showing respect. People used to believe that if anybody did any work on this day, it would bother the dead people. So it was even forbidden to wash, sew, or clean up.
Is All Saints Day only Catholic?
In Western Christianity, many different churches still celebrate November 1st. This includes the Roman Catholic Church and many Protestant churches such as the Lutheran, Anglican, and Methodist traditions.
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Link will appear as All Saints’ Day Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, October 29, 2023
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.