Candles illuminate Hietaniemi Cemetery in Helsinki for All Saints’ Day

At Helsinki’s Hietaniemi Cemetery, a sea of candles burns in memory of the deceased as All Saints’ Day is observed. The day serves as a time for reflection, with families bringing wreaths and candles to light up the darkest season of the year. A recent video captured the sight of glowing candles illuminating the evening sky at the cemetery.

All Saints’ Day is a Christian celebration honoring deceased loved ones as well as martyrs, saints, and other believers within Christianity. Its origins trace back to the early centuries of Christianity and combines two observances: All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. Traditionally, families visit the graves of their relatives, leaving flowers and candles as a tribute. Candles can also be lit at memorials for those buried elsewhere.

On this special day, many congregations hold memorial services and candlelight vigils. According to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, the practice of lighting candles on graves began during World War II. The holiday was known as “All Hallows’ Day” until 1967.

The date of All Saints’ Day varies slightly each year, falling on a Saturday between October 31 and November 6. Finnish Catholics commemorate the same day as the Day of the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed. While some might confuse it with the Anglo-Saxon Halloween or the pagan harvest festival of Kekri, All Saints’ Day remains distinctly Lutheran and holds significant cultural and spiritual meaning for many Finns.