Today (Friday 1 November) is All Saints' Day. This may be just a much-awaited day off work and long weekend to many, but it is still widely celebrated across Belgium. What does it mean to observers, and how does it affect services and stores?
Every year, 1 November marks the celebration of All Saints' Day, also known as All Hallows' Day or the Feast of All Saints in countries of the Christian tradition, including Belgium.
It follows All Saints' Eve on 31 October, alternatively known as All Hallows' Eve or more popularly as Halloween, signifying the start of the three-day period of remembrance of the dead. But what does this entail in Belgium?
Chrysanthemums and candles
The holiday marks the day to commemorate the "communion of saints" and honours the belief that those who have gone to Heaven continue to be bound to those who remain on Earth. Observers not only remember all known saints and martyrs, but they also honour faithful devotees or loved ones who have died but led others to a life of faith.
Many Belgian families visit the graves of their loved ones in cemeteries and decorate them with flowers – specifically chrysanthemums, which many say represent eternal life, and are sold en masse in supermarkets and flower stores – as well as candles. In Brussels, several bus routes will be adapted or extended to facilitate access to cemeteries.
On All Saints' Day, people lay chrysanthemums on their loved ones' graves. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
Devotees commemorating the dead also attend Mass, and a special service is held at many churches. On 2 November, the 'Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed' (All Souls' Day) is celebrated, when the Church remembers and prays for the faithful departed.
While 1 November is recognised as an official public holiday in Belgium, meaning most people are off work, 2 November is not.
What is closed today?
Public and administration services (including social services) will not operate, and all town and city halls will be closed, meaning it is not possible to register with the commune or pick up documents on this day.
Banks across the country are also closed. However, customers can still use banking services electronically at payment terminals or via their online banking app, and ATMs will be operating.
Postal services are also shut for the day, meaning there will be no delivery of letters, packages or newspapers until Monday (or in some cases on Saturday). The police remain accessible at all times, but some district offices will be closed for administrative matters. Those needing urgent police assistance can call 112.
Most pharmacies will remain closed, but for urgent needs and medication, people can contact the pharmacist on duty. The nearest on-duty pharmacy can be found here.
Belgium's national railway service SNCB, Flemish bus service De Lijn and Brussels public transport company STIB will continue to operate during the bank holiday but at a reduced Sunday service schedule. However, as mentioned above, STIB is extending its bus lines to allow people to easily reach the city's cemeteries.
As for groceries, many Carrefour, Intermarché and Spar stores will be open for reduced weekend hours, while larger Delhaize supermarkets will welcome customers until midday. Some smaller Delhaize Shop'n'Go markets will also be open, but again following reduced hours. The vast majority of supermarkets – Albert Heijn, Aldi, Colruyt, Cora, Lidl, Makro and Okay – are closed today. The website of the store in question usually shows whether it is open.
Various smaller stores may remain open for the holiday, depending on the choices made by their independent shop owners.
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Many shopping malls and retail shops across the country, such as City 2 and Docks Bruxsel, will remain closed today, but there are exceptions: Maasmechelen Village, for example, is open. DIY shops and furniture and decoration shops will also be shut.
Most restaurants, bars and cafés will remain open to the public, unless they are usually closed on Fridays.
Amusement parks, such as Walibi and Bobbejaanland, as well as zoos including Antwerp Zoo, Planckendael and Pairi Daiza, are open. Most museums will remain closed, but visitors should check the museum's website in advance to be sure.
