Monday November 2 marks All Souls Day here in Poland. All Souls Day is a day of prayer and commemoration for the dearly departed. It is sometimes celebrated on November 1 in conjunction with All Saints Day as it can be considered an extension of All Souls Day. To celebrate this occasion, as followed by the Catholic parish here and many other Christians, grave sites are cleaned up, new candles are lit, new wreaths or flowers are added, and then on All Souls Day time to pay respect and pray for the deceased is observed. 

This upcoming Sunday and Monday, on November 1 and 2, the Catholic Church will celebrate All Saints and All Souls Days, which means it’s also time to stock up on candy for Halloween night. The word "Halloween" is a contraction of the words "All Hallows Eve," meaning the night before All Saints Day.  The merchandising bonanza Halloween has become has obscured the core meaning of the holiday to the point where few people know its religious significance.