All Saints Day and following All Souls Day are a very special and important time in my country, Poland. On these days, it's a tradition that people visit cemeteries and commemorate their deceased relatives and friends by leaving lanterns, flowers and - if they are religious - praying at the tombs. Families often meet there without planning, and accidentally bump into friends. Even among non-religious people or non-practicing catholics it's an important and respected event. Media use this opportunity to recall the famous people that died through the year. All Saints Day is still a national holiday (shops are closed and most jobs have a free day).
The cemeteries are lit up with the candle fires. It's a great and inspiring view, especially at night, and one can sense a wave of glowing heat. This means presence, someone came to most of these tombs. Every cemetery has a place - usually a big cross monument - where people leave lanterns and pray for those, who are buried too far to 'visit' them on this day. I attach a few photos from a few catholic cemeteries from my city. We also have one, small, evangelical one - although usually completely dark, it's also bright on this night, even though most protestants around here don't believe in praying for the dead.
I'm very glad that this customs prevail as a strong tradition, despite the withering of religious commitment in our nation. Of course the prayer is the most valuable aspect, while the candles and flowers will just burn out and decay. However, remembering the ancestors and death, in a serious way (not a mockery), provides a good context for our lives, human dignity and leads to self-reflection, which might be a way to God.
