All Saints' Day

All Saints’ Day, known in Germany as Allerheiligen, is observed annually on 1 November. The Christian feast honors all saints—both those formally recognized by the Church and the countless faithful believed to share in eternal life. Its origins reach back to the early Christian commemoration of martyrs; the Western Church gradually established a universal feast, and Pope Gregory IV extended its observance throughout the Latin Church in the ninth century. In German-speaking regions, Allerheiligen became especially associated with Catholic religious culture and remembrance of the dead.

In Germany, All Saints’ Day is not a nationwide public holiday. It is a statutory holiday primarily in Catholic federal states and regions, including Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, as well as parts of some other Länder. In 2026, 1 November falls on a Sunday. The feast is closely connected with All Souls’ Day on 2 November, when the dead are specifically commemorated, although popular customs often blend the two observances. Allerheiligen also takes place immediately after Halloween, but it has a distinct religious and commemorative character rather than being primarily associated with costumes or parties.

A central German tradition is visiting family graves and church cemeteries. Relatives clean and decorate graves with chrysanthemums, winter arrangements, evergreen branches and memorial candles, often placing special red or white grave lights known as Grablichter. In Catholic communities, priests may lead a cemetery procession after Mass and bless the graves. Church services, prayers for the deceased, organ music and moments of quiet reflection are important parts of the day, while cemeteries often appear particularly illuminated after dusk.

Families commonly spend the day together in a calm, reflective atmosphere and may attend Mass before visiting relatives’ graves. Regional customs include baking an Allerheiligenzopf, a braided yeast bread, although recipes and names vary across Germany; in some areas, seasonal cakes and pastries are served with coffee. There is no single nationwide greeting, but Catholics may say “Gesegnetes Allerheiligenfest” or “Einen gesegneten Allerheiligentag” (“Have a blessed All Saints’ Day”). Because 2026 observes Allerheiligen on a Sunday, church attendance and cemetery visits remain central, while ordinary Sunday schedules apply nationally and public-holiday rules depend on the relevant federal state.