Last Saturday, on a dreary rainy day, we visited the Heitaniemi cemetery to see Finnish families decorating graves and lighting candles for Pyhäinpäivä (All Saints Day). Pink erika (heather), evergreen, and moss wreaths are popular choices for decoration. All Saints Day was originally on November 1st, and still is in many countries, but in Finland it's now celebrated from October 31-November 6. Honouring the Christian saints, the martyrs and the dead, Saturday is the official statutory holiday and when they celebrate their version of Hallowe'en. We saw lots of festive decorations and young people (not children) dressed in costumes in the bars of Helsinki. I regret not walking the cemetery at night with all the candles lit. Apparently it is a beautiful sight.
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