All Souls’ Day was observed on 2 November, when Catholics commemorate the dead. Reported forms of remembrance included lighting candles, placing flowers at graves, sending letters to heaven, attending services in which the names of the deceased are read, and taking part in remembrance walks and light evenings.

Readers also shared personal accounts of everyday objects that had become tangible reminders of deceased loved ones, and described whom they planned to remember by lighting a candle. One report said the Roman Catholic Archive in Bolsward preserves more than 40,000 prayer cards in memory of the dead and that the collection is used for genealogical research.