Light a Candle at Mirogoj on the Evening of 1 November
By late afternoon on 1 November, the avenues of Mirogoj fill with a slow river of people carrying chrysanthemums and glass votives. As dusk settles, thousands of candles flicker along the arcades and graves, and the whole cemetery glows. This is the heart of All Saints' Day in Zagreb — a candle-lighting that symbolises eternal light — and it is the single thing to build your day around.
All Saints' Day (Svi Sveti) falls on 1 November 2026, with All Souls' Day following on 2 November. Both are days when Zagreb turns toward its cemeteries, and Mirogoj is where the city gathers in the greatest numbers. Go on foot if you can, arrive before dark, and stay as the lights come on.
Attend Mass and the Blessing of Graves
Masses are held in all Zagreb churches and chapels on 1 November, with the main mass traditionally at Zagreb Cathedral. The rhythm of the day is familiar: morning masses, cemetery visits, and evening prayers. Processions to cemeteries include the blessing of graves, and priests conduct grave blessings throughout the day.
- Plan around morning masses if you want to attend a service, then move on to a cemetery.
- Exact mass times vary by parish — official schedules are published by the Croatian Bishops' Conference and by local diocese and parish websites, so check those closer to the date.
- Parish offices are generally closed on the holiday, even as priests are occupied with masses and blessings.
All Saints is a statutory non-working public holiday in Croatia, so expect the city to run on a quieter, family-centred schedule.
Join the Citywide Cemetery Visits
Participation in the day is high across Zagreb, including visitors who travel in from surrounding areas. Residents visit cemeteries to light candles and lay flowers, and you can simply join that movement — buy flowers and candles near a cemetery entrance, walk the rows, and take your time.
Mirogoj is the notable gathering place, but the custom is citywide: churches and chapels hold their observances, and the cemeteries are busy from morning through evening prayers. Dress for a long walk and for cold, and bring a candle to leave behind.
Know the Feast You're Marking
The feast dates to the 4th century, and Pope Gregory III moved it to 1 November in the 8th century — the date it has held ever since. Understanding that long history gives the evening at Mirogoj its weight: you are taking part in a tradition observed here for centuries, not a one-off event.
Plan Around the Holiday
Because 1 November 2026 is a fixed annual date and a public holiday, build your trip around it rather than hoping to squeeze it in. Check parish and diocese websites for the mass and blessing schedules as the date approaches, set aside the late afternoon and evening for Mirogoj, and keep 2 November in mind for All Souls' Day if you want to extend the observance.
Start with the date, then the schedule, then the walk to the graves — that order will give you the day as Zagreb actually keeps it.