Many religious, spiritual and cultural traditions devote a day to the dead, perhaps with a more folk or more religious feeling, but in all of them the concept of death is an essential part of the wheel of life.

Different cultures and civilisations have celebrated a festival in memory of the deceased since time immemorial. Thus, All Saints’ Day (a Catholic feast day) takes place at a key time of the year, when nature itself seems to die. The celebration is linked to pre-Christian festivals, such as the Celtic feast of the dead, known as Samain or Samhain in Gaelic. According to this belief, the year was divided into two parts, the light season (from 1 May) and the dark season (from 1 November), with a few days separating the two. Despite the fact that Christianity adopted the festival, All Saints’ Day customs have retained many of elements that reflect beliefs prior to Christianity. However, in the early seventh century, instead of tearing down Rome’s Pantheon, a pagan temple of the gods that Marcus Agrippa had built, Pope Boniface IV purified it and consecrated it to the honour of the Virgin Mary and all the martyrs. For this reason, Pope Gregory IV designated 1 November for the celebration of this feast day, and decreed, at the same time, that it should be regarded as one of the principal feasts of the liturgical year. At the end of the tenth century, another feast was added, dedicated to praying for the faithful departed (2 November), a tradition that has continued and is still observed today. Therefore, All Saints’ Day is immediately followed by the day dedicated to the dead, All Souls’ Day.

In Catalonia, just like in many other places, it was a common belief that on the night of All Saints’ Day the souls of our ancestors came back to their homes and the places they had lived. The exact time this happened was even pinpointed: from two pm on All Saints’ Day until the same time the following day. There is a long-standing tradition to set another plate at the table that night, or to leave an empty space for deceased family members, or to open the doors so the souls can come in. There are also many customs related to fire and souls: it was common to put a light at the door of the house to guide them, a fire could be built in the fireplace where they could warm up, or candles might be lit in the bedrooms in their memory. There were villages in the Catalan Pyrenees which lit the way to the church with torches to guide the ‘souls in purgatory’. It was believed that the souls in purgatory would return to their homes and, if they found a warm welcome from their families, they would go straight to heaven; otherwise, they would have to continue suffering. All these references associated with memory and ancestral commemoration of the deceased, which are celebrated by many religious, spiritual and cultural traditions in different ways, are associated with the collective ideas and mindsets on death at any given time in history, which have changed over time. The celebration has evolved over the centuries and survives today in various forms, such as the Anglo-American tradition of Halloween, named after the contraction of the expression All Hallows’ Eve. Another example is the celebration of Day of the Dead in Mexico.

The celebrations of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Days have also had a satirical side at different times in history and in different cultures. For example, at the end of the nineteenth century, theatres would fill on All Saints’ Day for performances of a contemporary play that captivated audiences: Don Juan Tenorio. This play, which was published in 1844, was a version of the Don Juan myth by José Zorrilla. The story of seduction between Don Juan and Inés featured both the living and the dead, and this led audiences to quickly embrace the play shortly after its première. And so, every 1 November it was held at different theatres in Catalonia, with particular success in Barcelona and Reus.

It is very common in many religions to visit graves, pray or bring offerings. In Barcelona, today many people still flock to the cemeteries to visit the graves of family members or friends.

INFORMATION AND NEWS 2025:

• On 1 November, the cemetery offices will extend their opening hours from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm.

• New landscaped areas for the interment of ashes are being opened at the Poblenou and Sants cemeteries, along with new columbaria for funeral urns at the Les Corts Cemetery.

• A new exhibition space will open at the Funeral Carriage Collection at Montjuïc Cemetery and will be accessible to visitors from 1 November.

NEW ASH INTERMENT AREAS AT LES CORTS, POBLENOU AND SANTS CEMETERIES: These new areas, which comprise 84 m² at Poblenou Cemetery, 78 m² at Sants Cemetery and 128 columbaria at Les Corts Cemetery respectively, have been designed to create extensive green spaces where funeral urns can be placed among plants.

NEW CITIZEN SERVICE OFFICE AT HORTA CEMETERY: The office was created to strengthen connections with citizens and to guarantee faster, more personal service tailored to the needs of each user. This contributes to an improved citizen experience. Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 8.30 am to 2.30 pm and 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm, and weekends and public holidays, 8.00 am to 2 30 pm. A professional team is available to handle administrative procedures and provide personalised assistance.

NEW EXHIBITION SPACE AT THE FUNERAL CARRIAGE COLLECTION: a permanent exhibition showcasing heritage pieces from cemetery tombs across the city, creating a meeting point between history, art and collective memory that enriches visits to the carriage collection. It will feature works by Puig i Cadafalch and Venanci Vallmitjana, among others.

FLOWER SALES POINTS: On the following days, fresh flower sales points will be available at the Sant Andreu and Poblenou cemeteries from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm, and at the Les Corts Cemetery:

• Sant Andreu Cemetery: from 25 October to 2 November.
• Poblenou Cemetery: from 25 October to 2 November.
• Les Corts Cemetery: Friday 31 October, 3.00 pm to 6.00 pm; Saturday 1 November, 8.00 am to 6.00 pm; Sunday 2 November, 8.00 am to 2.00 pm.

MASSES AT THE CEMETERIES. 1 NOVEMBER: This year, five city cemeteries will hold a Mass for the Faithful Departed, in memory of those who have passed away.
• Poblenou Cemetery: at 10.30 am
• Sants Cemetery: at 10.00 am
• Sarrià Cemetery: at 11.00 am
• Sant Andreu Cemetery: at 11.00 am
• Les Corts Cemetery: 11.15 am

MEXICAN ALTAR AT THE FUNERAL CARRIAGE COLLECTION, MONTJUÏC CEMETERY: Mexican culture includes a wealth of funerary traditions, and altars have a pride of place in Mexican homes in memory of family members who have departed. An opportunity to participate in a Mexican altar in memory of Concepció Badia Millàs, fifty years after her death in Barcelona. The activity will be hosted by MEXCAT on 1 November at 11.00 am at the Funeral Carriage Collection at Montjuïc Cemetery.

CLAVÉ CHOIR CONCERTS. As in previous years, a concert will be held on 1 November at 1.00 pm in tribute to Josep Anselm Clavé at Poblenou Cemetery.

***** During this period, Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona will provide enhanced service to facilitate access and travel to the cemeteries.