When is All Saints’ Day?
In 2026, All Saints’ Day falls on Sunday, November 1, 2026. It is classified here as a Italian public holiday.
History of All Saints’ Day
All Saints’ Day, Tutti i Santi or Ognissanti, is Italy’s nationwide public holiday on November 1. The Catholic feast honours all saints, including those without an individual feast in the liturgical calendar. Its history belongs to the development of a universal Christian commemoration rather than to one Italian patron, but the date gained a particularly strong place in Italy through parish worship and family connections with the remembrance season.
The legal holiday must be distinguished from November 2, the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed. November 2 is not a nationwide statutory holiday, even though many families visit cemeteries, clean graves and leave chrysanthemums or candles across both days. Municipal cemetery hours, blessings and traffic plans can therefore be expanded for a remembrance practice extending beyond the single protected date.
Regional foods further distinguish the period. Bakers prepare sweets for the dead under names and recipes that vary widely, including ossa dei morti and other almond, spice or biscuit traditions. These foods, cemetery visits and Mass are living practices, not legal requirements. November 1 keeps its calendar date without a universal substitute Monday if it coincides with Sunday.
How All Saints’ Day is observed
A national public holiday in Italy. Many families visit cemeteries over November 1 and 2; opening hours can vary.
Traditions of All Saints’ Day
Cemetery visits
Families bring flowers and candles to graves in the days around All Saints’ and All Souls’. Its exact expression remains shaped by Italian regions, municipalities, parishes and participating families.
Church services
Parishes hold Masses and remembrance liturgies for saints and departed relatives. Its exact expression remains shaped by Italian regions, municipalities, parishes and participating families.
Seasonal sweets
Bakeries prepare regional pastries and sweets associated with the autumn remembrance season. Its exact expression remains shaped by Italian regions, municipalities, parishes and participating families.
Dates and observance rules are checked against the official Italian official holiday law and government sources. Regional and municipal patronal holidays, including Rome’s June 29 holiday, may apply in addition to the national calendar.
History sources: Gazzetta Ufficiale: national holidays and civil solemnities, Gazzetta Ufficiale: restoration of Republic Day on June 2, Normattiva: Law No. 260 of 27 May 1949 on national holidays.
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