How to prepare the grave for All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day
Every year, at the end of October, thousands of Portuguese families make the same journey. They take flowers, a brush, a bucket, and the intention of leaving the grave as it deserves to be.
This guide gathers what is useful to know before that visit: this year's dates, how to clean a grave without harming it, what never to use on stone, which flowers last longest, and a countdown for anyone who needs to order something.
There is nothing to buy in the next thousand words. If at the end you need a new headstone, we will talk about that — honestly, about the timings.
The dates: 1 and 2 November
They are two dates in a row, with different meanings, and many people treat them as one.
All Saints' Day
It celebrates all saints, known and unknown. It is a national public holiday in Portugal.
All Souls' Day
Also called the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed. Dedicated to the memory of all who have died. It is not a public holiday.
In 2026, 1 November falls on a Sunday and the 2nd on a Monday. Anyone wanting time and quiet to clean a grave should go beforehand, during the week: the days around the holiday are the busiest of the year in any cemetery in the country.
In Portugal the cemetery visit is made mostly on the 1st, even though the day dedicated to the dead is the 2nd. It is also on the 1st that many towns keep up the Pão-por-Deus: children knock on doors and are given bread, cakes, pomegranates, dried fruit or coins. One of the oldest Portuguese traditions still alive.
What is traditionally done
- Cleaning the grave — the only practical task, and the reason most people go earlier than on the day itself.
- Bringing flowers, almost always chrysanthemums.
- Lighting a candle or lantern, a symbol of light for the one who has gone.
- Attending mass on the 1st or 2nd. Many parishes celebrate inside the cemetery itself.
- Praying together beside the grave. For many families it is the only day of the year when everyone is in the same place.
Cleaning the grave without harming it
Set aside an hour and go before the big weekend. What you need fits in a bucket:
- A bucket of water
- A soft-bristled brush
- Neutral soap
- Soft cloths
- 01
Remove whatever is loose
Leaves, last year's dried flowers, empty vases, soil built up in the corners. Always start with the dry: wetting over loose soil turns it into mud and spreads it across the stone.
- 02
Wet the stone with clean water
And leave it a minute. The dirt lifts on its own far more easily than if you scrub dry — and scrubbing dry is what scratches the stone.
- 03
Scrub with the soft brush, in gentle movements
If water is not enough, put a drop of neutral soap in the bucket. Never scrub hard over the photograph or the engraved letters: it is the most delicate part of the piece.
- 04
Rinse with clean water, plenty of it
Any soap left behind leaves a white mark when it dries — and that mark shows up precisely in the week the family comes to visit.
- 05
Dry with a soft cloth
Do not let dark stone air-dry: the water evaporates and leaves droplet and limescale marks. It is the step most people skip, and the one that makes a visible difference.
- 06
Deal with metal and glass separately
Metal letters, frames and lanterns are cleaned with a damp cloth, separately from the stone.
Moss, lichen and green stains
If the grave is in shade or under trees, moss and lichen are normal. Scrape with a plastic scraper or a wooden spatula, patiently, and wash afterwards. Never with a metal scraper or a wire brush: the scratches end up more visible than the stain that was there.
Old stains may not come off first time. It is better to accept that they get lighter this year than to insist with harsh products.
What to never use
Most of the damage seen on headstones does not come from the weather. It comes from a cleaning done with good intentions and the wrong product.
| Never use | Why |
|---|---|
| Bleach | It discolours the stone irreversibly and attacks the printed photograph. It is the most common mistake of all. |
| Vinegar, lemon or any acid | Acids corrode limestone and marble, and eat away the sheen of slate. The household vinegar trick is no use here. |
| Hydrochloric acid and descalers | Bathroom products are not for natural stone outdoors. |
| Wire brush or steel wool | They scratch permanently. |
| Pressure washer | The pressure gets into the joints, lifts letters and can strip off the printed layer. |
| Scouring powder or cream cleaner | It works by abrasion, meaning it wears the surface away a little at a time. |
| Alcohol, acetone, thinner | Solvents attack the colour printing and the varnishes. |
| Oil to bring out a shine | It creates a film that holds dust and darkens the stone over time. |
On slate, specifically
Slate is a natural stone of dark tone and behaves well outdoors — that is why we work with it. But being dark, it shows everything: a scratch, a limescale mark, a trace of soap.
Simple rule: water, soft brush, neutral soap when needed, and dry with a cloth. Nothing else. Over the photograph engraved in colour, only a damp soft cloth, without scrubbing and without product.
On granite and marble
Granite is harder and tolerates more mechanical effort, but it still does not like acids.
The marble is the most delicate of the three: it is limestone, and an acid — even diluted vinegar — leaves a matte mark that does not come back. On marble, water and neutral soap, and nothing else.
Flowers: what lasts longest
The chrysanthemum is the flower of All Souls across southern Europe. It is not superstition: it blooms at this time of year, withstands cold and lasts longer cut than almost any autumn alternative.
Other choices that hold up well for a week outdoors: carnations, gladioli and roses, the last of these less long-lasting. If the grave is exposed to wind, tall gladioli topple — a low, firm arrangement is worth more.
- A vase with water and weight at the base. A light vase with tall flowers falls in the first gust, and stays fallen until someone comes back.
- Cut the stems on a diagonal before putting them in water. They last noticeably longer.
- Artificial flowers are not a lack of respect. For someone who lives far away and visits once or twice a year, they are what guarantees the grave is not bare in December. Many families do both: real ones on the 1st, artificial for the months after.
If the grave belongs to someone who lives abroad and cannot go, this page explains how everything is handled remotely.
What to do, and when
The classic mistake is remembering everything in the last week of October, when there is no longer time for anything involving production or permits.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| By mid-September | Go and see the grave, or ask someone for a photograph. Assess the real state: stone, letters, photograph, vases. It is the step almost nobody takes, and the one that decides all the others. |
| End of September | If a new headstone or plaque is needed, measure and ask for a quote. If the cemetery requires a placement permit, deal with it now — it is requested from the parish or the council. |
| As soon as you decide | Talk to us about a new headstone. The earlier, the more room the family has to choose the photograph and the message without rushing. |
| Design approved | Production only starts here. From this point on there is no room to change the photograph or correct the message without putting the 1st at risk. |
| The week before the last weekend of October | Do the deep clean. The cemetery is still quiet and there is time to let it dry and come back, if needed. |
| Last week of October | Buy flowers and candles. Confirm deliveries. Final touch-up on the grave. |
| Last working day before the 1st | The latest a piece ordered in time can arrive. |
| 1 November | The visit. It is the busiest day of the year in any cemetery in the country — and the nearest weekend is almost as full. |
| 2 November | All Souls. Quieter cemeteries, mass for the souls of the departed. |
Why we do not give a fixed deadline
Because a date written on a page is worth little: it depends on that week's production queue, on transport, and above all on how long the family takes to decide. We would rather show you the arithmetic and answer for your particular case.
- Production takes 7 to 14 working days, and counts from the approval of the design — not from the date of the order. To the production time you must still add the transport to the delivery address.
- Before that there is a stage that appears in no table: the family's decision. Between siblings in three countries, choosing the photograph and the message takes days. That time belongs to the family, not to us, and it is almost always what makes the date slip.
- Adding it all up, what makes sense is to talk to us early and, if there is still time, to hear it from us — rather than finding out too late that there was not.
The times are in working days, not calendar days — it is the difference between a delivery that is kept and one that is promised.
If the grave needs more than a clean
There are things a brush does not solve. The photograph faded by the sun. Letters that can no longer be read. A cracked plaque. A name that was never added.
We make slate headstones and plaques with the photograph engraved in colour, name, dates and message, in our workshop in Maia, Porto. Prices start at 35 € (14×22 cm) and go up to 230 € in the half-metre size (53×33 cm), with 10 sizes and every figure visible:
- 14×22 cm35 €
- 20×20 cm49 €
- 20×30 cm (folha A4)75 €
- 25×25 cm75 €
- 30×20 cm90 €
- 24×32 cm100 €
- 32×24 cm120 €
- 30×40 cm130 €
- 40×30 cm150 €
- 53×33 cm (meio metro)230 €
If all that is missing is the photograph on a grave that already exists — or a frame that has been damaged — no new headstone is needed: a plaque is made sized for the free space. Send a photograph of the grave as it is today and the measurement of that space.
Nothing is engraved before the family approves the design, and payment comes only after that. If you are working on the message, there are 64 inscriptions gathered by category in inscriptions for headstones and graves.
Need a new headstone or plaque by the 1st?
Tell us the measurement of the space and what you want engraved, and you get the price for your configuration. We speak frankly about the date: if it will not arrive in time, we say so.
Frequently asked questions about All Saints' and All Souls'
What is the difference between All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day?
All Saints' Day, on 1 November, celebrates all the saints and is a national public holiday in Portugal. All Souls' Day, on 2 November, is dedicated to the memory of all who have died and is not a holiday. In 2026, the 1st falls on a Sunday.
How do you clean a grave without damaging it?
First remove whatever is loose, wet it with clean water, scrub with a soft-bristled brush — and a drop of neutral soap, if needed —, rinse plentifully and dry with a soft cloth. Never use bleach, acids, a wire brush or a pressure washer.
Can bleach be used to clean a headstone?
No. Bleach discolours the stone irreversibly and attacks the printed photograph. It is the most frequent mistake and the most destructive.
How do you clean a slate headstone?
Water, a soft brush, neutral soap when necessary, and always dry with a soft cloth — slate is dark and shows any water mark or trace of soap. Over the photograph engraved in colour, use only a damp cloth, without scrubbing and without product.
Which flowers are taken to the cemetery on All Saints' Day?
The chrysanthemum is the traditional flower, because it blooms at this time and lasts longer cut. Carnations, gladioli and roses also hold up well. Use a vase with water and a heavy base, so the wind does not knock it over.
How late can I order a headstone for All Saints' Day 2026?
The sooner the better, and the reason is not commercial. Production takes 7 to 14 working days from the APPROVAL of the design — not from the date of the order — and to that you add transport. Before that there is still the part that appears in no table: choosing the photograph and the message, often between siblings in different countries. Talk to us and we will tell you frankly, for your case, whether it can still be done.
Do I need a permit to place a headstone on a grave?
Many cemeteries require a permit or prior notice to place or replace a headstone. It is requested from the parish council or the municipality the cemetery belongs to. Deal with it while the piece is in production, not after it arrives.
How do you remove moss and lichen from a grave?
Scrape with a plastic scraper or a wooden spatula, patiently, and then wash with water and neutral soap. Never use a metal scraper or a wire brush: the scratches they leave end up more visible than the original stain.
A doubt about the grave is settled in one message
If you are not sure what to use, or if the plaque can no longer be read and you do not know what is possible, send a photograph. A person replies.