Croatians head to cemeteries to pay respects as All Saints’ Day observed

Mirogoj Cemetry in Zagreb on a previous All Saints’ Day

ZAGREB, 1 November 2023 – Croatians will head to graveyards to light candles and lay flowers in remembrance of the deceased as All Saints’ Day is observed on Wednesday.

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

(Photo credit: Mate Paškanović Pavković)

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

Vukovar 

Officials of the City of Vukovar laid a wreath and lit a candle at the Memorial Cemetery for Homeland War Victims on the even of All Saints’ Day on Tuesday.

(Photo: Grad Vukovar)

After the joint prayer at the Memorial Cemetery of Homeland War Victims, the delegation laid wreaths and lit candles at the New Cemetery “Dubrava”, at the foot of the Memorial “Ovčara”, the Old Catholic Cemetery and local cemeteries in Sotin and Lipovača.

“In light of tomorrow’s holiday, today we laid a wreath and paid tribute to all fallen defenders and civilians, as well as all of our deceased. They remain in our prayers, thoughts, and hearts. Vukovar’s cemeteries are visited by a large number of people in November, and these days we have a large influx of people in the city. The City of Vukovar regularly takes care of the cemetery’s maintenance, and in the upcoming year, construction of an ossuary will begin at the New Cemetery, a project worth 250,000 euros. Additionally, there is a provision of 150,000 euros for the further improvement of the areas and access paths, ensuring easier access for all users and providing all necessary communal equipment and arrangements,” stated Mayor Ivan Penava.

(Photo: Grad Vukovar)

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”.