All Saints’ Day being observed in Croatia today

All Saints’ Day being observed across Croatia today (Photo: Sandra Tralić)

ZAGREB, 1 November 2019 – People all across Croatia will head to graveyards to light candles and lay flowers in remembrance of the deceased as All Saints’ Day is observed today.

The Feast of All Saints, or All Saints’ Day, is observed annually on 1 November. The day is a national holiday in Croatia.

Locals traditionally use the day to clean family gravestones, add fresh flowers and light candles to pay respects to loved ones no longer here. It is a holy day of obligation for Catholics.

Mirogoj cemetery in the capital Zagreb will again attract massive crowds with spectacular sights just before sunset as the candles begin to take effect.

Mirogoj cemetery in Zagreb on All Saints’ Day 

The nation’s officials will also pay their respects to all those who died during Croatia’s War of Independence at Mirogoj cemetery.

Paying respects to those who lost their lives during Croatia’s War of Independence (Photo: Ured Presjednice)

All Saints’ Day, on its current date, is traced to the foundation by Pope Gregory III (731–741) of an oratory in St. Peter’s for the relics “of the holy apostles and of all saints, martyrs and confessors, of all the just made perfect who are at rest throughout the world”.