Remembering the departed on All Saints' Day in Sweden and Finland

This photo and the ones below were shot this evening at the old cemetery in Viken.

All Saints Day, 1 November, was in AD 731 designated a day of remembrance for saints of the church  who had no days of their own. In 1772 All Saints Day was mover to the first Sunday in November in  Lutheran Sweden - and Finland, which was part of the Kingdom of Sweden at the time. In 1953 All Saints Day was in Sweden moved to the Saturday between 31 October and 6 November. Two years later the same happened in Finland.

In the 20th century people in Sweden and Finland began to put candles on the graves of the departed on All Saints' Day. This custom is said to have originated with the wealthy families in towns and cities. After WW II it spread to all parts of both Sweden and Finland. In Finland many people also light a candle in their home in remembrance of their departed forebears.