All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day: What You Need to Know

All Saints’ Day celebrates the joy and victory of saints in heaven, symbolized by white vestments. In contrast, All Souls’ Day is a somber observance for the faithful departed, marked by black or purple vestments representing mourning and penitence. The traditions of these days reflect deep Christian roots, with early practices of praying for the dead dating back to the 7th century. Both days emphasize the spiritual connection among the living, the saints, and those in purgatory, continuing to be observed in various Christian denominations today.