Overview
- Nov. 1 remains a public holiday only in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, with the rest of Germany operating as normal.
- All Saints’ Day is protected as a “silent holiday,” bringing state-level restrictions such as dance bans that vary by region, including an all-day ban in Bavaria.
- Customs in Germany center on quiet remembrance with cemetery visits, candle lighting and priestly grave blessings, while Nov. 2’s All Souls’ Day is not a statutory holiday.
- Mexico’s Día de Muertos runs roughly Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 and features public parades, music and communal celebrations that honor deceased relatives.
- The ofrenda is central to the Mexican tradition, typically displaying photos, sugar skulls, cempasúchil flowers, papel picado, candles, favorite foods and Pan de Muerto, a practice recognized by UNESCO since 2008.