All Saints’ Day in Lithuania
All Saints’ Day is observed in Lithuania on November 1 and is listed in the Labour Code as a public holiday when work is normally suspended. The date also falls within Lithuania’s autumn period of remembrance, when people visit cemeteries and tend graves.[1][2][3]
Date and public-holiday status
Lithuania’s Labour Code names November 1 as All Saints’ Day and says public holidays are normally days off. Work on a public holiday generally requires an employee’s consent, with exceptions for certain working-time arrangements and collective agreements.[1]
The date is fixed on November 1. The next day, November 2, is separately named the Day of Remembrance of the Dead, or Vėlinės, in the Code.[1]
Meaning and remembrance
All Saints’ Day is a Christian feast honoring the saints. In Lithuania, its place in the calendar sits alongside a strong period of remembrance for the dead: the Labour Code distinguishes November 1 from Vėlinės on November 2, while Lithuanian museum material describes All Souls’ Day as a day for remembering and honoring the deceased.[1][4]
Historical sources discussed by the National Museum of Lithuania describe earlier Lithuanian autumn customs as changing over time. Accounts from the 15th and 16th centuries refer to village gatherings and offerings, while records from the 19th and early 20th centuries describe family meals with a blessed candle and, in some homes, food set aside for departed souls.[4]
Cemetery customs
Visiting cemeteries, decorating graves, lighting candles and praying are associated with the period around All Saints’ Day and Vėlinės. A Lithuanian customs resource describes flowers and burning candles on graves on both days; the National Museum of Lithuania also identifies fire as a central symbol in historical observances for the dead.[3][4]
The customs recorded in historical sources varied by time and place. Some accounts describe food being brought to cemeteries or shared at home, but these are historical practices, not a reliable guide to what every family does today. No single traditional meal is known nationwide for All Saints’ Day.[3][4]
What to expect
Because November 1 is a public holiday, businesses, offices and organizations are generally closed. The statutory list also includes November 2 as a public holiday, so check opening hours if you need a particular service during this period.[1][2]
Check with the relevant operator or organisation for public transport schedules and with shops, banks or schools for their holiday hours.[1][2]
Frequently asked questions
Is All Saints’ Day a public holiday in Lithuania?
Yes. The Labour Code lists November 1 as All Saints’ Day, when work is normally suspended.[1]
When is All Saints’ Day observed?
It is observed on November 1 each year. November 2 is a separate public holiday, the Day of Remembrance of the Dead, also known as Vėlinės.[1]
Do people visit cemeteries on All Saints’ Day?
Cemetery visits, grave decorations, candles and prayer are customs associated with All Saints’ Day and Vėlinės in Lithuania.[3]
Are offices and shops open?
Businesses, offices and organizations are generally closed on public holidays, but specific opening hours vary. Check directly with the place you plan to visit.[2]
Sources and references
Sources used for All Saints' Day in Lithuania:
- XII-2603 Law on Approval, Entry into Force and Implementation of the Labor Code of the Republic of Lithuania- International Labour Organization, NATLEX
- Living and working conditions: Lithuania- European Commission, European Employment Services (EURES)
- THE DAY FOR CELEBRATING THE DEAD- Lithuanian National Culture Centre
- LNM House of History educator Audronė: back then, the afterlife was always around- National Museum of Lithuania