People in Czechia remember the dead on All Souls’ Day

Czechs are marking All Souls’ Day, known locally as Dušičky, by visiting cemeteries to remember deceased relatives and friends. They light candles and lay wreaths and flowers on graves. In Catholic tradition, the day is dedicated to the memory of all faithful departed, and churches hold special masses for the dead.

Police and local authorities have strengthened patrols and public transport around cemeteries, which stay open longer during this period. The origins of this autumn remembrance go back to Celtic and Slavic traditions linked with the coming of winter. The custom was formally introduced in 998 by Abbot Odilo of Cluny and spread through the Catholic Church by the 14th century. While in Czechia Dušičky are traditionally a quiet occasion for reflection, other countries mark the same period with festivities such as Halloween.