All Souls Set To Illuminate Poland
Halloween may still be something of a novelty in this neck of the woods, with a modest following amongst youngsters, but Poland has its own archaic rituals to accompany the passing of autumn in the twin celebrations of All Saints and All Souls.
On November 1st, All Saints, the Polish landscape will shimmer with pools of coloured lights, as graveyards across the country are covered with candle-lit lanterns. The custom echoes a pagan rite of honouring the dead, Dziady (Forefathers), which was appropriated by the Catholic Church in the medieval era.
In Cracow, the most evocative sites to explore are the 19th century necropolis of Rakowicki, and the hilltop graveyard at Salvator, which lie at opposite ends of the No.2 tramline.
Although officially a national holiday, many cafes and restaurants will remain open on November 1st. On the following day, All Souls, things are pretty much back to normal. That said, the lanterns continue to flicker for several days, presenting a magical, moving spectacle to locals and visitors alike.
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