All Saints' Day, celebrated on November 1, invites Christians to remember the holy men and women who went before us: the famous ones with feasts of their own, and the countless unknown ones who lived their faith quietly. This year it falls on a Sunday, which makes it a lovely moment to mark at home.
You don't need elaborate plans. Here are seven simple ways to honor the saints with your family.
1. Learn one saint's story
Choose a saint and read about their life together. Pick someone connected to your family: the patron of your parish, a saint who shares a family member's name, or one whose story simply speaks to you. A single story read at the dinner table is enough.
2. Find your patron saint
Many people were named after a saint or chose one at Confirmation. Take the day to find out who yours is, what they are known for, and what you might ask them to pray for. Children especially love discovering that they have a heavenly friend.
3. Make a small prayer corner
A shelf, a corner of the living room or a bedside table is all you need. Add a candle, a Bible, and an image that draws your eyes toward prayer. A simple wall print above it turns an ordinary spot into a place you are more likely to return to. If you want ideas, our guide to choosing Christian wall art for your home can help.
4. Pray the Litany of the Saints
This ancient prayer calls on the saints one by one, asking for their intercession. It takes only a few minutes and is easy to pray aloud as a family, with one person leading and the others responding.
5. Visit a church or a grave
In France and in many other European countries, families visit cemeteries around November 1 and bring flowers, often chrysanthemums. Even if no one in your family is buried nearby, lighting a candle in a church is a quiet way to remember those who have gone before you. The day after, All Souls' Day on November 2, is traditionally set aside to pray for the departed.
6. Let the children dress up
Some families hold a "holy day" celebration instead of Halloween, with children dressed as their favorite saints. It is a playful way to turn a story into something they remember, and it works for adults too.
7. Share a meal in their honor
Cook something connected to a saint's story or country, or simply gather family and friends for a meal and say a short prayer of gratitude for those who have shaped your faith. Hospitality has always been a way of keeping faith alive.
A reminder for ordinary days
The saints were not perfect, and many struggled with doubt and weakness. What they share is trust, which is why their lives still encourage us. Words often associated with Saint Thérèse of Lisieux say it simply: "Everything is grace."
Whatever you choose to do on November 1, keeping a reminder of faith in view makes it easier to carry the day's spirit into the rest of the year.
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Frequently asked questions
When is All Saints' Day in 2026? November 1, 2026, which falls on a Sunday. All Souls' Day follows on Monday, November 2.
What is the difference between All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day? All Saints' Day honors all the saints, known and unknown, who are with God. All Souls' Day is dedicated to praying for the faithful departed.
How can children celebrate All Saints' Day? Through saint stories, dressing up as favorite saints, coloring pages, and a family meal with a short prayer.