All Saints: a day to remember the dead

On Thursday, November 1, the festivity of All Saints is commemorated, dedicated to remembering the dead. On this special day, the tradition is to visit the cemeteries and to decorate with flowers the tombs of departed beloved ones . Cemeteries, which are normally quiet spaces, become this day full of people, flowers and life.

On the Balearic Islands, the religious traditions, the masses and the prayers, are completed with some other happier traditions, such as the custom of giving children "rosaries" made of sweets and crystallized fruits, and the typical deserts for this date: "bunyols" in Mallorca and Menorca, and "Panellets" in Eivissa and Formentera.

The visits to the graveyards and the rest of activites related to this festivity last some days, this year until Sunday, November 4.

Photos © Archive BalearWeb
1. Cementiri des Puig de Missa (Santa Eulària des Riu, Eivissa)
2. Cooking "bunyols" on the street (Porreres, Mallorca)

Date of publication: 31/10/2001

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