Although Austrians are not known for celebrating Halloween with the same gusto as Americans, those with a late night on the 31st have something to look forward to - a long lie.
That's because All Saints' Day, or Allerheiligen in German, is a Christian holiday celebrated in Austria on November 1st.
The Catholic holiday is one of several Catholic festivals marked with a public holiday in Austria (including Ascension, Assumption and Christmas).
And it's not just Austria—quite a few European countries, including France, Spain, Italy, and some regions of Germany and Switzerland, have a public holiday on November 1st.
All Saints' Day falls on a Friday this year.
What’s the history behind All Saints’ Day?
Over the first few centuries, as the number of saints grew across the Christian world, Christians struggled to honour each Christian martyr—known and unknown—with their own holiday.
From the fourth century onwards, many Christians instead began to celebrate the inclusive All Saints’ Day, which was then held on the first Sunday after Pentecost each year.
This date changed in the eighth century when Pope Gregory III dedicated a chapel to all Christian saints, and Rome decided to mark All Saints’ Day on November 1st. A few decades later, in 835, Gregory IV followed suit, declaring that the Western Church should mark the occasion on the exact same day going forward.
Although All Saints' Day originally commemorated saints and martyrs, today, the focus is on the dead. Therefore, in its current form, All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day on November 2nd have been combined.
What can you expect in Austria on November 1st?
On All Saints' Day, most people will have the day off work, while businesses and shops will remain closed.
On the eve of All Saints' Day (also known as Halloween), lanterns are traditionally left at Austrian graveyards. Church bells ring at noon on the actual holiday, according to the beliefs surrounding this day, which signifies the release of the souls of the dead.
Many Austrians visit cemeteries on this public holiday and decorate the graves of loved ones with autumn flowers, such as marigolds and chrysanthemums. Sometimes, wafers are also placed on graves so the dead can return and eat something.
Tributes are also left at the graves of soldiers who died in World War II.
Another tradition in Austria is the Allerheiligenstriezel or All Saints' plait, a symbolic form of feeding the soul. The sweet bread pastry is usually given as a gift around this time.
When is the next public holiday in Austria?
Austria has a generous public holiday allowance of 13 days every year.
The next official public holiday is Sunday December 8th, which is another religious event known as Mariä Empfängnis (Mary's Conception).
This public holiday's roots are in celebrating the life of the Virgin Mary, as Catholics believe Mary was immaculately conceived on this day. Mary's mother, Anne, is known as the patron saint of pregnant women.
During the Nazi era, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception was no longer allowed to be a public holiday in Austria. But it was brought back in 1955 following a public referendum on the issue.
One thing to note is that on Mariä Empfängnis, shops are allowed to open as the holiday falls during the busiest shopping period of the year. On all other public holidays in Austria, shops are closed. This year, though, as the holiday falls on a Sunday, shops will be closed.
Martinstag, or St. Martin's Day on November 11th, is one of those dates that people don't get off from work, but many Austrians commemorate nevertheless.
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