All Saints’ Day in San Marino
San Marino recognizes All Saints’ Day on 1 November as a religious feast with civil standing. The day is also marked in official cemetery arrangements, while 2 November is separately observed as the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed.[1][2]
Civil recognition in San Marino
The holiday’s local legal context comes from an agreement between the Republic of San Marino and the Holy See on the civil recognition of religious feasts. Signed in 1989, the agreement lists 1 November as All Saints and 2 November as the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed.[1]
The agreement says religious and civil celebrations should respect the values and meanings of both spheres. San Marino’s government school calendar has also listed All Saints as a common holiday for schools and early childhood centres, and the Central Bank’s payment-system calendar lists it among closure days.[1][3][4]
Religious meaning
For the local Catholic Church, All Saints is a celebration of the Church in heaven and a reminder of Christian hope. The diocesan homily for the feast describes it as a day to remember those who came before and to follow their example.[5]
The religious calendar places All Saints on 1 November and the remembrance of the dead on the following day. San Marino’s official agreement names these as separate observances, rather than treating them as one holiday.[1]
Cemeteries on 1 and 2 November
San Marino’s cemetery service identifies both All Saints and the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed as special opening days at the Montalbo and Serravalle cemeteries. It states that all cemetery staff work on those two dates.[2]
The same service says access to the rural cemeteries of Domagnano, Acquaviva, Fiorentino, Chiesanuova, Faetano and Montegiardino is free. It publishes seasonal opening hours for cemeteries where operators are present, so visitors should check the listed hours before travelling.[2]
What visitors should expect
The Central Bank says the national payment system closes on the dates listed in its holiday calendar, which includes All Saints.[3]
For shopping, transport and other services, check directly with the business or operator before making plans.[2][3]
Frequently asked questions
When is All Saints’ Day in San Marino?
Is it a public holiday?
Can I visit a cemetery on the holiday?
Yes. The cemetery service lists special openings at Montalbo and Serravalle for 1 and 2 November, with all cemetery staff working on those dates. Check the service’s published hours before visiting.[2]
Sources and references
Sources used for All Saints' Day in San Marino:
- Accordo fra la Repubblica di San Marino e la Santa Sede sul riconoscimento civile delle feste religiose- Segreteria di Stato per gli Affari Esteri, Repubblica di San Marino
- Luci Votive nei Cimiteri- Repubblica di San Marino
- Calendario festività- Banca Centrale della Repubblica di San Marino
- REPUBBLICA DI SAN MARINO — Errata corrige al Decreto Delegato 21 marzo 2024 n.70 “Calendario scolastico 2024 - 2025”- Consiglio Grande e Generale, Repubblica di San Marino
- Documenti- Diocesi di San Marino-Montefeltro