This is a day I will never forget. It is the day to return to the village or town of your ancestors and put flowers and candles on their graves.
Joan and I have made that trip from Poznań to Golina many times in the last 19 years.
Unfortunately, due to her health conditions, for the last five years we have not returned there. This year, I thought it would be possible, but Joan was not feeling up to the trip. It is not that far, maybe about a 1,hour, 20,minute drive.
It is also a day to see relatives that you have not seen since last year on November 1st. That was always a treat for me. Families try to gather together on this day, the official day to commemorate the departed faithful. The celebrations begin with tending to family graves and the surrounding graveyards, lighting candles and leaving flowers. November 1 is a public holiday in Poland.
It is a time when people travel from all across the country to return to their hometowns and gather at ancestral sites. Walking through the cemetery in the evening reveals a stunning sea of light as thousands of glowing lantern flames illuminate the autumn crispness. Even though missing the trip this year brings a sense of quiet sadness, the memories of gathering with loved ones, honoring past generations, and sharing those quiet, peaceful moments at the gravesite remain deeply treasured.
