Today, November 2 is Památka zesnulých (Remembrance of the Deceased) here in the Czech Republic. The church observes this day as All Souls’ Day, but to most Czechs the day is known as Dušičky – an affectionate diminutive of duše (the Czech word for “souls“). All Souls Day here in the Czech Republic is connected with the remembrance of relatives and friends that are deceased.
So today, and yesterday as well, since it was the weekend, if you visit a cemetery here in the Czech Republic you will see more flowers, wreaths and long burning candles on the graves than at most other times throughout the year, as the whole country takes this occasion to visit the graves of their loved ones.
...And Families just do not visit the cemetery; they come to it with rakes and clippers and bags and spend time cleaning and picking up the area of the grave; planting flowers for next Spring, as well as doing general care-taking of the grave site.
And as evening falls, as you can see, the cemeteries are alight with all fashion of candles casting an eery glow throughout, but showing that many many families have observed this day of remembrance. And It is so amazing to see the cemetery aglow.
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