All Saints’ Day in France: What Is La Toussaint?

All Saints' Day in France, known as La Toussaint, is celebrated every year on 1 November.

It is a public holiday and an important date in the French calendar, associated with religious traditions, family gatherings, and cemetery visits.

For many French families, La Toussaint is a time to remember loved ones who have passed away. Cemeteries are decorated with flowers, particularly chrysanthemums, and some families attend a special church service.

There is, however, a distinction worth making.

In the Catholic calendar, All Saints' Day honours all the saints, while All Souls' Day, on 2 November, is dedicated to remembering the dead. In France, the two occasions are closely associated because 1 November is a public holiday.

The Toussaint period also coincides with the autumn school holidays and, of course, Halloween on 31 October.

So, what does La Toussaint mean, where do these traditions come from, and how do the French celebrate it today?

What does La Toussaint mean in English?

La Toussaint is the French name for All Saints' Day. The word comes from tous les saints, meaning "all the saints".

It is a Christian feast celebrated on 1 November in honour of all the saints, both known and unknown.

In France, however, La Toussaint also has a broader meaning. For many people, including those who are not practising Catholics, it is associated with visiting family graves, placing flowers in cemeteries and remembering relatives who have died.

How do French people celebrate All Saints' Day in France?

In France, All Saints' Day is traditionally associated with visiting cemeteries and remembering family members who have passed away.

Although La Toussaint is a Catholic feast, some of its customs are also observed by people who are not particularly religious.

On 1 November, many French cemeteries look different from the rest of the year. Family graves are decorated with fresh flowers, and relatives come to pay their respects.

Visiting cemeteries and remembering loved ones

One of the best-known traditions of La Toussaint in France is the family visit to the cemetery.

People often take the opportunity to clean and maintain family graves, replace old flowers and place new arrangements on the tombstones.

For some families, it is an annual occasion to visit the graves of parents, grandparents and other relatives. Others prefer to come quietly, either alone or with a few family members.

Strictly speaking, the Catholic Church commemorates the faithful departed on 2 November, known as All Souls' Day. However, because 1 November is a public holiday in France, many families visit cemeteries on that day instead.

Why do the French put chrysanthemums on graves?

If you visit a French cemetery around La Toussaint, you will probably notice the large number of chrysanthemums decorating the graves.

These colourful autumn flowers have become closely associated with remembrance in France. They flower at the right time of year and are relatively resistant to the cool weather of late October and early November.

Chrysanthemums (in French, chrysanthèmes) are traditionally considered flowers of mourning and remembrance in France. This is quite different from some other countries, where they may be associated with happiness or given as ordinary gifts.

Other plants and flowers are also used, including heather (bruyère) and arrangements of everlasting flowers (couronnes d'immortelles).

Church services on All Saints' Day in France

For practising Catholics, La Toussaint is an important religious celebration.

Special Masses are held in churches on 1 November to honour all the saints. Prayers for deceased relatives are also an important part of the wider Toussaint period, particularly on All Souls' Day.

Some families light candles or take part in prayers at cemeteries.

However, attending Mass is not part of everyone's Toussaint traditions. For many people in France, the day is primarily an opportunity to remember loved ones and spend time with family.

La Toussaint as a time for family gatherings

La Toussaint can also bring family members together.

Since 1 November is a public holiday, relatives may arrange to meet, visit the cemetery together and share a meal afterwards.

For families whose members live in different towns or regions, this can be an opportunity to return to their family roots.

Of course, not every French family observes La Toussaint in this way. Some simply enjoy the day off, while others are away during the autumn school holidays.

Nevertheless, the tradition of visiting cemeteries and remembering deceased relatives remains one of the most recognisable features of All Saints' Day in France.

Is La Toussaint a public holiday in France?

Yes, All Saints' Day (La Toussaint) is a public holiday in France. It takes place every year on 1 November, regardless of the day of the week.

For many people, it means a day off work, although some businesses and services continue to operate. Unlike 1 May (Labour Day), All Saints' Day is not necessarily a non-working day for every employee.

In 2026, La Toussaint falls on Sunday 1 November. This means that people who normally work from Monday to Friday will not gain an additional weekday off.

Are shops and museums open on All Saints' Day in France?

If you are visiting France on 1 November, you may find that some shops, supermarkets and other businesses are closed or operate reduced hours.

However, this does not mean that everything shuts down.

Restaurants, cafés, bakeries and tourist attractions may remain open, particularly in larger cities and popular tourist destinations.

Museums and monuments have their own opening arrangements. Some remain open on public holidays, while others close or change their opening hours.

Public transport generally continues to operate, although services may follow a Sunday or public holiday timetable.

My advice is to check the opening hours of any place you intend to visit, especially if you are travelling to a smaller French town or village.

The Toussaint school holidays in France

For French schoolchildren, La Toussaint is also associated with the autumn half-term holidays, known as les vacances de la Toussaint.

These holidays usually last two weeks, beginning in the second half of October and ending in early November.

Unlike the winter and spring school holidays, which are staggered across different educational zones, the Toussaint holidays take place at the same time throughout mainland France.

According to the French Ministry of Education's official school calendar, the 2026 Toussaint holiday dates are:

• End of classes: Saturday 17 October 2026.
• Return to school: Monday 2 November 2026.

Pupils who do not have lessons on Saturdays begin their holidays after school on Friday 16 October.

These dates apply to mainland France, including Corsica. French overseas territories may follow different school calendars.

For families, the Toussaint holidays are often an opportunity to travel, visit relatives or spend a few days away from home. Popular holiday destinations and tourist attractions may therefore be busier than at other times during autumn.

The period also coincides with Halloween on 31 October, although the two celebrations have very different origins and traditions.

The origins of All Saints' Day in France

The origins of All Saints' Day go back to the early centuries of Christianity, long before La Toussaint became a public holiday in France.

Christians originally commemorated the martyrs who had died for their faith. Over time, the celebration was extended to include all the saints, whether officially recognised or not.

But why is All Saints' Day celebrated on 1 November?

How 1 November became All Saints' Day in France

In 609 or 610, Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon in Rome to the Virgin Mary and all the Christian martyrs. The dedication was celebrated on 13 May, rather than in November.

During the 8th century, Pope Gregory III dedicated a chapel in St Peter's Basilica in Rome to all the saints. His pontificate is closely associated with the adoption of 1 November for the feast.

The celebration gradually spread across Western Europe. In 835, during the reign of the Carolingian emperor Louis the Pious, the observance of All Saints' Day on 1 November was established throughout the Frankish Empire, with the support of Pope Gregory IV.

This helped establish the date in the territories that would later form France.

The feast also falls close to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the transition towards winter. Although the two occasions share a place in the autumn calendar, the exact relationship between them remains a subject of historical discussion.

Over the centuries, All Saints' Day became an established part of the religious calendar in France. It remains a public holiday today, even though French society has become increasingly secular.

From potato holidays to the Toussaint school break

There is another interesting connection between La Toussaint and the agricultural calendar.

In rural communities, children once helped their families with seasonal farm work, including the autumn potato harvest. In some regions, school breaks around this time became known as potato holidays.

The expression is particularly associated with French-speaking Switzerland, where les vacances des patates is still used in certain areas.

It is sometimes said that the French Toussaint school holidays originated directly from these potato harvest breaks. However, the development of the national school calendar was more complicated, and the connection should not be taken as a universal explanation.

Today, the Toussaint holidays are a regular part of the French school year. They generally last two weeks, covering the second half of October and the beginning of November.

The agricultural origins may have faded from everyday life, but the autumn break remains firmly associated with La Toussaint.

Halloween and All Saints' Day in France: What's the difference?

Halloween and La Toussaint take place on two consecutive days, but they are very different celebrations.

Halloween is celebrated on 31 October, while All Saints' Day (La Toussaint) falls on 1 November.

The first is generally associated with costumes, pumpkins, sweets and parties. The second is a Christian feast that has long been part of the French religious calendar.

There is also an important practical difference: Halloween is not a public holiday in France, whereas La Toussaint is.

How Halloween and La Toussaint coexist in France

Halloween became particularly visible in France during the 1990s, thanks in part to advertising campaigns, supermarkets and entertainment venues such as Disneyland Paris.

However, it has never entirely established itself as a tradition shared by all French families.

Some children enjoy dressing up and going trick-or-treating, while others take part in activities organised by local associations or municipalities. In many places, Halloween passes relatively quietly.

La Toussaint, on the other hand, has much older roots in France. Even among families who are not particularly religious, visiting cemeteries and placing flowers on graves remains a familiar autumn custom.

The two celebrations can therefore coexist quite naturally. A family might take part in Halloween activities on 31 October and visit relatives' graves the following day.

Their different meanings are worth remembering.

Halloween vs All Saints' Day in France: A quick comparison

A Christian response to Halloween: Holy Wins

The growing popularity of Halloween in France has sometimes prompted a reaction from Catholic organisations.

One example is Holy Wins, an initiative launched in Paris in 2002 to draw attention to the Christian meaning of All Saints' Day.

The name is a play on the word Halloween. Rather than concentrating on ghosts, monsters and frightening costumes, the organisers wanted to celebrate the saints and the Christian message of hope.

Although Holy Wins has never become a widespread national event, it illustrates how some French Catholics have responded to Halloween.

For more about the history, traditions and popularity of Halloween, read my article Halloween in France: Traditions, History and Culture.

Visiting Paris during All Saints' Day

If you are spending the Toussaint holidays in Paris, you may wish to explore some of the city's historic cemeteries.

Paris has several remarkable burial grounds, many of which are worth visiting for their history, monuments and atmosphere.

Around 1 November, they take on particular significance, as families come to place flowers on graves and remember their loved ones.

According to the City of Paris, more than 200,000 visitors are expected in the city's cemeteries during the Toussaint period in 2026.

The historic cemeteries of Paris

The most famous is undoubtedly Père Lachaise Cemetery, in eastern Paris.

Opened in 1804, it is the largest cemetery within Paris and the resting place of many famous figures, including Frédéric Chopin, Oscar Wilde, Édith Piaf, Jim Morrison and Marcel Proust.

Its tree-lined avenues, elaborate tombs and monuments make it an interesting place to explore, particularly in autumn.

Interested in the history of Père Lachaise? You can also explore the cemetery on a guided tour with an English-speaking guide.

Other Parisian cemeteries are worth visiting:

Montparnasse Cemetery, on the Left Bank, where you can find the graves of Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir and Charles Baudelaire.

Montmartre Cemetery, situated below street level near the famous hill of Montmartre. Among its notable graves are those of Dalida and Edgar Degas.

Passy Cemetery, near the Trocadéro, a smaller and more intimate cemetery with views towards the Eiffel Tower.

All four cemeteries offer an opportunity to discover another side of Paris, away from its busiest streets.

Visiting during La Toussaint: The cemeteries remain open around 1 November, but some attract considerably more visitors than usual. Remember that they are still active burial grounds, and many people will be there to visit family graves.

Admission to Paris's municipal cemeteries is free, although guided tours may be charged separately.

The Catacombs of Paris

For something quite different, you might consider a visit to the Catacombs of Paris.

Beneath the streets of the capital lies an extraordinary underground ossuary containing the remains of several million Parisians.

The bones were transferred here from overcrowded Parisian cemeteries, beginning in the late 18th century.

Today, visitors can explore part of this underground network and learn about the history of burial practices in Paris.

The Catacombs are sometimes associated with Halloween because of their unusual and rather unsettling appearance. However, they are also a reminder of the city's history and its relationship with death and remembrance.

The site is open on 1 November, although advance booking is strongly recommended.

You can find the latest opening hours and other information on the official Catacombs website.

Planning a visit? Check ticket availability for the Paris Catacombs, and remember that advance booking is strongly recommended.

Practical tips for visiting Paris on 1 November

All Saints' Day is a public holiday in France, but Paris does not come to a complete standstill.

Many tourist attractions, restaurants and cafés remain open, although individual opening hours may vary.

If you intend to visit a cemetery on 1 November, allow for the possibility of larger crowds, especially at Père Lachaise.

For a quieter visit, you may prefer to go on another day during the autumn holidays.

It is also worth checking the official opening hours before setting out, particularly as some cemeteries have different arrangements during the Toussaint period.

Frequently asked questions about All Saints' Day in France

What does La Toussaint mean in English?

La Toussaint means All Saints' Day in English. The French word comes from tous les saints, meaning "all the saints". It refers to the Christian feast honouring all the saints, celebrated on 1 November.

When is La Toussaint celebrated in France?

La Toussaint is celebrated every year on 1 November. The date never changes, although the day of the week does. In 2026, All Saints' Day falls on Sunday 1 November.

Is All Saints' Day the same as All Souls' Day?

No. All Saints' Day, on 1 November, honours all the saints in the Christian tradition. All Souls' Day, on 2 November, commemorates the faithful departed. In France, the two occasions are closely connected because many families visit cemeteries on the public holiday of 1 November.

Find out more about All Souls' Day on the blog!

Why do French people visit cemeteries on All Saints' Day in France?

Many French families visit cemeteries during La Toussaint to remember deceased relatives, maintain family graves and place flowers on tombstones. Chrysanthemums are particularly popular because they flower in autumn and have become traditional flowers of remembrance in France.

Is La Toussaint a public holiday throughout France?

Yes. All Saints' Day is a national public holiday in France, including its overseas territories. However, this does not mean that every business closes or that every employee has the day off. Opening hours and working arrangements vary.

Is Halloween the same as La Toussaint?

No. Halloween takes place on 31 October and is mainly associated with costumes, pumpkins, sweets and parties. La Toussaint is celebrated on 1 November and has Christian origins. Although both fall at the same time of year, they have different meanings and traditions in France.

Further reading about All Saints' Day in France

• Read more about Toussaint and French cemeteries.
• Our guide to better understanding Halloween in France.
• Find out more about Autumn in France.
• On the French blog, read about 5 legends for Halloween in Alsace.

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