Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day)2026 · Date · History
USCCB catechetical material and Vatican liturgical practice identify 2 November as the Roman Catholic Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day).
About Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day)
The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, commonly called All Souls Day, is observed in the Roman Catholic Church on 2 November.
The day is devoted to remembrance and prayer for the faithful departed and follows the November 1 Solemnity of All Saints in the Catholic calendar.
Why Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day) matters
All Souls Day is a Catholic liturgical commemoration centered on prayer for the dead and Christian hope in resurrection.
Practices vary by place and community, so this guide does not present every cemetery, family or devotional custom as universal.
History of Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day)
The U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults identifies November 2 each year as the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, or All Souls Day.
Vatican calendars and papal liturgies continue to mark the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed on November 2.
The observance belongs to a long Catholic liturgical tradition, but the reviewed official sources used here do not establish one single founder or a first recurring edition.
The page therefore treats the current date and liturgical identity as verified while leaving disputed or diffuse medieval-origin claims outside the asserted provenance fields.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
8 fields not established in reviewed sources
Also known as
All Souls Day
How to Observe Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day)
Attend Mass or other parish liturgies where appropriate to your faith tradition.
Pray for deceased relatives, friends and members of the community if that practice is meaningful within your tradition.
Visit a cemetery or memorial respectfully, following local rules and family preferences.
Read official Catholic liturgical or catechetical material to understand the day’s theological context.
Respect differences among Christian denominations and local cultures rather than assuming all communities observe the day in the same way.
Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day) Facts
All Souls Day falls on November 2 in the Roman Catholic calendar.
Its formal liturgical title is the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed.
USCCB catechetical material describes the day as a time of special remembrance and prayer for the dead.
The Vatican continues to celebrate liturgies for the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed on November 2.
This page does not claim a single modern founder or a precisely documented first annual edition.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Faith Context Respect.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
USCCB — Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, 2 November 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Official Denominational Liturgical Calendar
USCCB — United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, All Souls Day (opens in a new tab)
Official Denominational Source
Vatican — Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, 2 November 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Holy See Liturgical Source
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day)?
2 November annually The documented recurrence rule is: 2 November.
Does Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day) fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day) an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: Catholic Church / remembrance and prayer for the dead. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day)?
The documented basis is: USCCB catechetical material and Vatican liturgical practice identify 2 November as the Roman Catholic Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day).. Supporting evidence includes USCCB — United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, All Souls Day. The site does not infer a separate creator or founder unless reviewed evidence establishes one.
Is Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day) international or country-specific?
No single country is assigned to this observance. Its documented scope is: Catholic Church / remembrance and prayer for the dead. Use that scope rather than assuming worldwide or country-specific status.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-10-01.
When is All Souls Day?
In the Roman Catholic calendar it is observed on 2 November.
What is its formal Catholic name?
The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed.
What is the day about?
Catholic sources describe it as a day of remembrance and prayer for the faithful departed.
Do all Christians observe it in exactly the same way?
No. Practices and calendars differ among churches and communities, so this guide is specifically bounded to the Roman Catholic observance documented by the reviewed sources.
Other observances on November 2
These observances are also listed on November 2, 2026.
Arrival of Indentured Labourers
Mauritius Public Holidays Act lists the Day of commemoration of Arrival of Indentured Labourers on 2 November. The 2015 amendment states that listed public holidays are observed every year,…
Broadcast Traffic Professionals Day
Broadcast software company WideOrbit documents the observance’s link to the 2 November 1920 broadcast milestone and its purpose of recognizing broadcast traffic professionals; recurrence do…
Color The World Orange™
The Color The World Orange™ campaign states that the event is held annually on the first Monday of November to raise awareness of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), also known as RSD. I…
Finados (All Souls’ Day)
Brazilian federal Law 10.607 expressly lists 2 November among the country’s national holidays; the Brazilian civic name is Finados.
International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists
A/RES/68/163
National Ohio Day
National Day Calendar lists National Ohio Day on 2 November. The U.S. Senate records Ohio’s current statehood date as 1 March 1803 and notes the 1953 congressional resolution that establish…