GatheringsLate Oct – early Nov

All Saints by Candlelight

The cemetery changes after dark

On Alla helgons dag — All Saints' Day — people visit family graves, clear away autumn leaves and light candles. By late afternoon, Stockholm's cemeteries begin to glow, one small light at a time.

Skogskyrkogården, Stockholm's UNESCO-listed Woodland Cemetery, is the best-known place to see it, but this is not a show arranged for visitors. It is an active cemetery and a private evening for many families. Walk slowly, keep your voice low and never photograph a person at a grave without asking.

In 2026, All Saints' Day falls on Saturday 31 October. Arrive before dusk if you want to see the change from an ordinary autumn afternoon to a landscape of candlelight.

A light left for someone

Most candles sit inside simple glass or metal lanterns so the flame survives the wind. Some graves have one; others have enough to light the path around them.

If the person you want to remember is buried elsewhere, look for a minneslund — a shared memorial grove — rather than choosing a private grave. Lighting a candle there is quiet, ordinary and entirely enough.

Bring a proper grave candle rather than a loose tealight. They are sold in supermarkets and flower shops throughout the week before All Saints.

Not the same as Halloween

In 2026, Halloween and All Saints' Day fall on the same Saturday, but they remain different occasions. Costumes and parties belong elsewhere; the cemetery stays quiet.

There is no ceremony you need to follow. Leave space for families, keep to the paths and let the candles do most of the work.

The date moves each year because Alla helgons dag is always the Saturday between 31 October and 6 November. Candlelit visits begin around dusk and continue through the evening.

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