All Saints' Day: Traditional commemoration and modern funeral forms

All Saints' Day: Traditional commemoration and modern funeral forms

The first two days of November are a particularly venerable occasion for Christians in many regions. Believers come together on All Saints' Day and All Souls to commemorate the deceased. This tradition has deeply rooted historical backgrounds, which go back to the first centuries AD. The early Christians originally gathered on the graves of martyrs who were tortured and killed because of their faith.

This customary has not lost any of their importance. Many people who visit the cemeteries in places such as Baden and Hainfeld emphasize that it is important to them to remind them of the deceased. Visits to the graves not only promote individual grief coping, but also strengthen the family gang. On this day, many relatives come together to commemorate together.

The custom of the Allerheiligenstriezel

A special feature of these days is the enjoyment of the All Saints' Striezel, a sweet bread that is consumed in some regions. Traditionally, he was previously distributed to children and the needy to pray for the dead. In addition, in some areas of the Striezel, places are placed on the graves, as a symbolic gesture of meals for the souls of the deceased who are supposed to return on these days.

The meaning of All Saints' Day and All Souls extends beyond the ritual character. An expression of the community can also be seen in conversations and in the joint implementation of visits to the cemeteries, which for many people represent a significant part of their cultural identity.

changes in the funeral culture

In recent years, the funeral culture has noticeably changed. The fire burial has become more important, and more and more people are opting for an urn grave. Pastor Clemens Abrahamowicz, Baden, explains that in addition to the lower costs, global trends and the lifestyle of the young generation also play a role. Many young adults are mobile and live in different parts of the world what the idea of carrying responsibility for a grave on another continent.

statistics show this trend: While only about ten percent of the deceased in Lower Austria were cremated in 2014, this proportion is now up to 40 percent. The social changes, which are caused by an increasingly various and global lifestyle, will surely play a central role in the discussion about burial culture in the coming years.

Overall, visiting cemeteries on All Saints' Day and Allerseles remains a central ritual that keeps the memory of the dead alive. Historical roots, family meetings and adaptation to modern ways of life make these days relevant both traditionally and in a contemporary way. Further information on the background of these developments can be found here .