- The tradition of All Saints’ Day combines Christian roots with the pagan Dziady, where the world of the living and the dead intertwined.
- In the past, it was believed that leaving food for the dead gave them peace and protected the household from evil spirits.
- Learn about an ancient ritual that you can practice to this day to attract good fortune and ward off evil forces.
Do it on All Saints’ Day and you will attract prosperity and happiness. Evil spirits will leave you alone
The tradition of visiting the graves of deceased loved ones has deep roots in Poland. In the past, Dziady was celebrated and it was believed that November was the month in which the border between the world of the living and the dead was particularly thin. The tradition of visiting graves on November 1 has its roots not only in Christianity, but also in much older, pagan customs of the Slavs. It was believed that the souls of ancestors returned to earth and that the living should return them. Bonfires or lights were lit, and sometimes wandering beggars (forefathers) were treated to food as personifications of the dead. The candles lit on graves on November 1 are a combination of Christian and pagan traditions. The light symbolizes the way home, hope and the victory of good over evil.
All Saints’ Day ritual for good luck. This is how it was done in the past
One of the old ones, on November 1, was to leave food for the dead. This custom is still cultivated in Polish villages today. The meal left for the deceased was supposed to provide him with peace and strength in the afterlife. In the past, food was left on windowsills or at the entrance doorstep. If the plates were empty the next day, it was believed that the household would be protected from evil spirits. You can practice it today too. If dead souls avoid your home, there is always a chance that animals will be tempted to eat it. It is also a good omen that you are a good person, and such people are always rewarded by fate.
