All Saints' Day in Bosnia & Herzegovina

A Catholic feast with a national legal reference

The Holy See–Bosnia and Herzegovina agreement names 1 November, All Saints, among the feast days that a special law would classify as non-working days for Catholics throughout the country.[1]

In 2015, the Council of Ministers said it had approved a proposal for a law on non-working days during religious holidays and planned to send it to parliament. The proposal listed All Saints among the days off envisaged for Catholics. The proposal was not an enacted law.[2]

Time off depends on the jurisdiction

Republika Srpska’s Holidays Law names several religious holidays, including Catholic Christmas and Easter, but not All Saints. It also gives residents the right to choose up to two paid days off per year for their other religious holidays. Its law says holidays cannot be moved to the next working day when they fall on a non-working day.[3]

In the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Federal Ministry of Labour says employees may take up to four working days per calendar year for religious or traditional needs, with two days paid. The ministry distinguishes this individual leave from days that are legally non-working for public bodies, employers and other legal entities.[4]

All Saints’ Day falls on 1 November. Employees should check their workplace’s arrangements, and visitors should confirm opening hours with the specific office or business.[3][4]

Religious meaning and local observance

In Catholic teaching, All Saints honors the community of saints, including saints not individually named in the calendar. It is distinct from the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed, or All Souls’ Day, which follows on 2 November and focuses on the deceased.[5]

A documented Sarajevo observance around these days has included a Mass, prayers for deceased members of the armed forces, wreath-laying and lighting candles at St Joseph cemetery, followed by a memorial Mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral. This is an example from Sarajevo, not evidence that every community follows the same programme.[6]