This day is observed in the Roman Catholic Church, churches of the Anglican Communion, and to some extent among Protestants. The Eastern Orthodox Church observes several All Souls' Days during the year.
The Roman Catholic celebration is based on the doctrine that the souls of the faithful which at death have not been cleansed from venial sins, or have not fully atoned for mortal sins, cannot attain the beatific vision in heaven yet, and that they may be helped to do so by prayer and by the sacrifice of the Mass.
All Souls' Day is also known as the Feast of All Souls, Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed (from the Latin Commemoratio omnium Fidelium Defunctorum), Defuncts' Day (in Mexico and Belgium), or Day of the Dead (in Hungary, France and Italy).
The Western celebration of the feast falls on November 2 and follows All Saints Day, which commemorates the departed who have attained the beatific vision. Since the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council the feast is celebrated on November 2 even in years when that date falls on a Sunday. In the traditional Latin rite, the observance is transferred to Monday, November 3 if November 2 is a Sunday, as the Mass for the dead and its black vestments is seen as inconsistent with the joyous nature of Sunday.
The Eastern church celebrates several days throughout the year, most falling on Saturdays, because of Jesus' resting in the tomb on Saturday.
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