A Polish couple walk through the Powazki military cemetery
© AFP/File Wojtek RadwanskiWARSAW (AFP) - One of the most popular holidays in Poland, November 1 sees cities lay on extra transport to cope with the huge numbers who visit cemeteries, and thousands of police officers patrol the streets and areas around cemeteries to ensure the safety of the living as they pay tribute to the departed.
"I feel it's important to visit the graves of our loved ones at least once a year, to pay tribute to them. They're still alive in our memories," said 50-year-old Joanna Orlewicz, who had come from the southern mountain resort of Zakopane to a Warsaw cemetery to leave flowers and light a candle at the final resting place of her uncle.
Retired teacher Krystyna Wewiorkowska sets aside three entire days every year to make the rounds of the graves of her deceased relatives, in cemeteries in and around Warsaw.
She handmakes the wreathes of flowers that she leaves as a tribute to her eternally-resting relatives, and orders entire boxes of votive candles from a wholesaler.
"It's a holy day for me," 71-year-old Wewiorkowska told AFP.
"Cemeteries are so beautiful when they are lit up. I love these candles. I wish they could remain lit forever," she said, heaving a sigh.
As they visit and care for the graves of late family members, Poles also look after abandoned headstones and pause to reflect and pray at the tombs of national heroes, many of whom are buried at the sprawling Powazki cemetery in Warsaw.
More than one million people have made the 43 hectares (106 acres) of Powazki their final resting place, since the cemetery was founded in 1790.
When Poland was under communist rule, from the close of World War II until 1989, opponents to the regime left hundreds of candles at the tombs of national heroes, much to the irritation of the government of the time. The flickering candles were Poles' way of showing their love of freedom and their hatred of communist oppression.
On November 1, the authorities in large cities around Poland lay on special shuttle buses to take people from the centre of town to cemeteries on the outskirts, and other buses to ferry people from cemetery to cemetery.
This year, 21 such bus services will operate in Warsaw, and three special tram lines will also be put in service.
More than 15,000 police officers will be duty to ensure the safety of all those who trek to cemeteries to remember the deceased.
Special car parks have been set up near larger cemeteries, to cope with the huge influx of tribute-payers.
During the week leading up to November 1, florists have done brisk business outside cemeteries, offering not only chrysanthemums in all shapes and colours but also a fine assortment of candles.
Around 350 million candles are sold every year in Poland, 80 percent of them just before November 1.
All Saints' Day has its roots in pagan festivals. Until the beginning of last century, many in central and eastern Europe believed that the spirits of the dead came back to visit their earthly dwelling place on All Saints' Day.
©AFP