All Saints' Day and Feast of the Dead

All Saints’ Day in the West Indies is a time of preparation. From October onwards, families organize themselves to clean and tend to the family graves.

For generations, young jdobeurs—those offering services in exchange for payment—have gone from cemetery to cemetery, assisting families with these tasks.

November 1 and 2 are public holidays in the West Indies. On November 1, Catholic faithful attend the Mass of All Saints. On both evenings, families gather around the graves they have adorned with flowers and lit with candles, sharing memories of their departed loved ones.

It is often the most important occasion of the year for family reunions, bringing together several generations in cemeteries beautifully illuminated by candlelight.