November - All Saints' Day

All Saints’ Day, which is celebrated on the first Sunday in November, was originally a commemoration day for the dead saints held on 1 November. The day survived the Reformation, but the Protestants combined it with All Souls’ Day, which was on 2 November. The day was abolished as a church festival in 1770, but is celebrated by the church on the first Sunday in November. In recent years, it has become common in many churches to commemorate those dead during the year on the day itself. The tradition of placing candles on the graves the evening before All Saints’ Eve is becoming more common. So is the American Halloween where the children dress up as ghosts etc and go around ringing door bells like at Shrovetide. When the door is opened, they say ‘trick or treat’ (in English). If they are not given a cookie or money, they make trouble – like at Shrovetide.


10 NOVEMBER - MARTINMAS EVE
Martinmas Eve is the evening before St Martin’s Day. Many Danes eat roast duck or goose on this evening.