November 2 is All Souls' Day in the Roman Catholic Church. Although most Czechs are atheists, they still keep November 2 as a day of remembrance for their departed relatives (something very much like Memorial Day in the U.S.). Traditionally, they visit the gravesites, cleaning them up, placing flowers, wreaths, and candles. They often travel quite a long distance to do this, returning to their native towns where parents, grandparents and other family members are buried. When November 2 falls during the week, most people do this either the weekend before or the weekend after the holiday. The burning candles (usually in red glass jars) make the cemetaries eerily beautiful at night. I thought I would take some photos this year of our local cemetary here in Horní Jelení, just before its gates were locked for the night.
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