All Saints' Day

All Saints’ Day, known in France as La Toussaint, is observed annually on 1 November and is a national public holiday. In the Christian calendar, it honors all saints—both those formally recognized by the Church and the countless holy people whose names are unknown. The feast developed in the early medieval period from earlier commemorations of martyrs and was established throughout the Western Church under Pope Gregory IV in the ninth century. It became particularly influential in the Frankish realm, where Christian observances were integrated into the religious and social calendar of medieval France.

In France, La Toussaint is closely associated with remembrance of the dead, although the Catholic calendar assigns that specific purpose to All Souls’ Day, or le Jour des Morts, on 2 November. Over time, the two observances became culturally linked, and many French families visit cemeteries and honor deceased relatives on 1 November because it is the public holiday. In 2026, All Saints’ Day falls on Sunday, 1 November. The date also coincides with the autumn school break commonly called les vacances de la Toussaint, making it an important period for family gatherings and travel. The holiday remains culturally prominent in France despite the country’s secular public life and declining church attendance.

A central French tradition is visiting family graves, cleaning memorials, placing flowers, and pausing for quiet reflection. Chrysanthemums, known as chrysanthèmes or simply mums, are especially associated with La Toussaint and are sold widely by florists, garden centers, and cemetery vendors. Their popularity grew during the twentieth century because they flower in late autumn and withstand cool weather; they are now so strongly linked with remembrance that giving chrysanthemums as a gift in France is generally avoided outside funerary contexts. Families may attend Mass, particularly in Catholic communities, while others observe the day as a nonreligious occasion to remember loved ones.

Many people spend the holiday with relatives, sharing a seasonal meal at home or in a restaurant. Menus vary by region and family, but autumn produce, roasted meats, soups, tarts, and other comforting dishes are common. Children may enjoy the school break, though La Toussaint is not traditionally France’s main Halloween celebration, and Halloween customs remain much less central than cemetery visits and family remembrance. There is no single universally required greeting; “Bonne fête de la Toussaint” or “Bonne Toussaint” may be used in religious contexts, while “Bonne fête” is more naturally addressed to someone celebrating a saint’s name day. On 2 November, some Catholics additionally attend services or pray for the deceased as part of le Jour des Morts.