For Kids: How to Celebrate All Saints & All Souls [video, printables, and more!]

This is a big week for the Catholic Church as we get ready to celebrate two very important feasts: All Saints Day and All Souls Day!

We have lots of resources to help you make these days stand out on the calendar so your kids can see (both literally and figuratively) how important these celebrations are for your family.

All Saints Day

First, this is a holy day of obligation to make sure you attend Mass!

To help you prepare for Mass, watch our Mass Prep video about the Gospel for All Saints Day:

Next, print off these free decorations and have your kids color them in.

Text a few friends today and invite them over for cupcakes and games! You don’t need anything fancy–even a little celebration will help your kids recognize that this day is different than other weekdays. Here is a list of easy games you can do from home and this FREE coloring page is another way to keep kids busy.

You can even ask your guests to dress as their favorite saints! Here is a list of costume ideas for girls and boys!

All Souls Day

It’s easy for this to get overlooked in the midst of Halloween and All Saints Day celebrations, but All Souls Day is very important!

On November 2nd, the Church focuses on The Church Suffering (the faithful departed who are being cleansed of their sins in Purgatory).

The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us about our relationship through Christ with others that not even death can overcome:

“In this wonderful exchange, the holiness of one profits others, well beyond the harm that the sin of one could cause others. Thus recourse to the communion of saints lets the contrite sinner be more promptly and efficaciously purified of the punishments for sin.” (1475)

Today is a great day to visit a cemetery (it doesn’t matter if it’s Catholic!) to pray for the dead.

There is a special plenary indulgence available on All Souls Day (and through the first 8 days of November).

You can learn how to fulfill the requirements of this plenary indulgence HERE with a handy printable.

If you are unsure how to explain WHAT a plenary indulgence IS and WHY we should do it, check out this simple explanation.

PS–don’t forget that November 3rd is the feast of St. Martin de Porres! Get instant access to his Glory Story (on SALE) to help you celebrate!