Gil Camporazo
All Saint’s Day
Our government has issued a memorandum no. 51, telling all government offices to let their employees go home as early as 3 in the afternoon for them to have time to travel to their respective home. This memorandum from the Office of the President is given “full opportunity” for the employees to be with their departed loved ones on November 1, which is the National Holiday for All Saint’s Day.
It is a tradition among our people to visit their dead to the cemetery, memorial park every year. This national holiday gets the family get together and pay due respect to their dearly beloved who have already passed away.
The cemetery or the memorial seems to be the busiest place to this day. It is filled of people in all walks of life.
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Question of
Do you also celebrate this kind of event for the dead?
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Yes
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No
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Question of
Do you go along with all the members of your family?
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Yes
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No
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Question of
Is this the best time to get together again as a family?
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Yes
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No
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Question of
Do you bring flowers, candles there?
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Yes
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No
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Question of
Do you pray for your dead there?
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Yes
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No
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We also celebrate with us and we bring flowers and light candles on the grave
I go to the cemetery when I feel like a need a visit, or it is near a holiday.
We do not have this holiday. I visit on my own.
That is good. At least you haven’t forgotten your beloved departed ones.
We have special days in our Orthodox calendar when going to the cemetery. Different customs, the Serbs mostly produce food and drinks, boiled cereals and red wine.
On Monday after Easter, food from coarse food is shared by random passers-by.
I say various customs, different traditions with different nations,
That is, of course, utter difference. Our culture differs from you. However, the point there is that we are valuing those customs as a part and parcel of our culture.
On All Souls Day I will be there in the Christian cemetery with my foster children.We will go there to lay flowers and burn candles at a colleague’s grave.
How thoughtful you are. You give importance and respect to your dead colleague.
When I got to visit a grave I go alone and sometimes I will bring flowers.
Why? Where are you family, relatives? Are they living far from your place?