All Saints & All Souls Family Activity Guide: Faithfully Celebrating the Season

Samantha Stephenson shares simple but meaningful activities and prayers to help your family celebrate Hallowtide.  

As Catholic parents, we have the joy and responsibility of shaping our family’s memory, of helping our children grow roots in the Communion of Saints and see their lives as part of the Church’s great story. The days from October 31 to November 2 — collectively known as Hallowtide — offer a beautiful opportunity to do just that. 

This guide is filled with simple but meaningful activities to draw your family into the mysteries we celebrate during these holy days: the triumph of the saints in Heaven, the prayers we offer for those undergoing purification, and the hope we have in Christ’s victory over death.  

All Hallows’ Eve (October 31): Light in the Darkness 

While our culture emphasizes fear and fantasy, the Christian meaning of this evening has always pointed to something deeper. All Hallows’ Eve invites us to prepare our hearts for the great feast of All Saints: to remember that we, too, are called to be light in the darkness. 

Activities: 

• Pumpkin Light of the Saints 
  Instead of (or in addition to) spooky faces, carve a cross, candle, or saint symbol into a pumpkin. Light a candle inside and talk with your children about how the saints shone the light of Christ into a dark world and how we are called to do the same.  

• Dress as Saints 
  Invite your children to dress as a favorite saint (or incorporate saint elements into a costume). Read a short bio about each one and share why that saint inspires you. 

• Litany of the Saints 
  Pray this beautiful litany as a family, adding names of favorite saints or loved ones your children admire. Let the saints’ names echo through your home. 

Reflection Question: 

What do you think made the saints holy? How can we be a light like they were?  

All Saints’ Day (November 1): The Church Triumphant 

This solemnity celebrates the countless souls now in heaven who live in the fullness of God’s glory. It’s a joyful reminder that we’re not alone; we belong to a spiritual family that spans heaven and earth. 

Activities: 

• Heaven Cookies 
  Bake cookies in the shape of stars, crowns, or hearts. As you decorate them, talk about the joy of the heavenly banquet and the reward of a life lived for God. 

• Saint Family Tree 
  Draw or paint a tree and add leaf cutouts representing each family member’s chosen saints. Hang it near your prayer table or dining space to remind your children of their spiritual family. 

• Scripture Reading 
  Read Revelation 7:9-17 aloud and invite your children to imagine the “great multitude” of saints in white robes. What do they think heaven might look like? 

Prayer Idea: 

Offer a family prayer of thanksgiving and ask specific saints to intercede for your family’s needs this season. 

All Souls’ Day (November 2): The Church Suffering 

On this day, we remember and pray for those who have died, especially those still in need of purification. We entrust them to God’s mercy and affirm our hope in the Resurrection. 

Activities: 

• Family Book of Remembrance 
  Write the names of loved ones who have died in a special notebook. Keep it on your prayer table or dining table throughout November. Let your children add drawings, or light candles together as you pray for those named in the book. 

• Cemetery Visit 
  Visit a cemetery to pray for the dead. Bring flowers or candles and teach your children the Eternal Rest prayer: 
  Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen. 

• Plant Fall Bulbs 
  Whether daffodils, garlic, or tulips, planting bulbs in the ground is a beautiful symbol of resurrection. What looks like death is only the beginning of new life. 

Reflection Question: 

What does it mean that, in Christ, even death is not the end? What do we hope for those who have died? 

Seasonal Family Practices for Fall 

• Leaf Prayers 
  As you rake or gather leaves, say a prayer for someone with each handful: living or departed. 

• Make Soul Cakes 
  Try this ancient tradition of baking soul cakes to pray for the dead. Leave one at each place setting in memory of a loved one. 

• Autumn Nature Walk 
  Collect fall leaves and talk about how trees let go of what they no longer need, trusting in the promise of new life to come. What do we need to let go of? 

Family Discussion Prompt: 

What do the seasons teach us about life and death? What’s something we want to “let go of” this fall to grow closer to God? 

Hallowtide is more than a holiday season. It’s a reminder that the Church is one Body, united across time, space, and even death. May these days help your family grow more deeply rooted in that communion. 

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Copyright 2025 Samantha Stephenson
Images: (top) iStockPhoto.com, licensed for use by Holy Cross Family Ministries; (all others) Canva