WHY DO WE BURN GRAVELIGHTS?

WHY DO WE BURN GRAVELIGHTS?
The practice of burning gravelights at cemeteries is connected with centuries-old tradition. It has become so an obvious symbol of memory about the dead that we do not think about its origin. During the centuries there has been a change in set of beliefs concerning human soul, however, the need to commemorate the departed is still present.

THE HISTORY OF BURNING GRAVELIHTS
The history of burning gravelights is connected to a pagan tradition known as All Soul’s Day – the day when the souls of the dead are transferred into the land of the living. During the night people used to burn fires on cemeteries and forks in the roads in order to show the lost souls the way to the human world. The fires were burnt also on the graves of suicides and tragically deceased situated outside the cemeteries. The fire was supposed to clear the lost souls as well as to protect the living ones from the dark powers. During the night of October 31st to November 1st our ancestors by eating, drinking and dancing tried their best to worthily commemorate the dead.
Along with the coming up of the Christianity, the importance of burning fires has been changed and modified. Since that time the fire placed on graves in the shape of burning candle was supposed to symbolise the hope for new life. In the VII century Pope Boniface IV introduced All Saint’s Day and the habit of praying for the souls of the dead, originally only for the saint one’s. Later, in the X century, Cistercian introduced the habit of prayers for the souls of all dead people.
Since the inter-war period people has started to take care for the graves, burn lights and bring flowers as a symbol of memory about our ancestors. Earlier, the majority of cemeteries were neglected, there were no graves, only mounds. The light coming from gravelights is a sign of eternity, proximity as well as reflection.

WHEN DO WE BURN GRAVELIGHTS?
We light gravelights as a symbol of respect and memory about the dead, that is why we use them especially during All Saint’s Day – the day of memory about the departed. What is more, we also commemorate our ancestors on Christmas, Easter and other Church holidays.