Alla Helgons Dag (All Souls' Day) 2018

3 November 2018

All Souls' Day. I was here in 2017 - Skogskyrkogården (pronounced as 'skogs-sheer-ko-gor-den'). Here I am again. It is one degree colder this year. 8 degrees. We were here early at 6pm and there were not much candles lit up yet. The candle in the small jar costs SEK10/RM5 in the grocery mart but was selling at double the price outside the cemetery. 

This year, we did not walk through the graveyard but went inside the chapels.

This is the smaller chapel. I was surprised to see that the lamps are the shape of a cross.

The main chapel has a mural of the departed leaving on a ship while others waved goodbye. Lightly colored murals which leaves a soft calm feeling. The main chapel has very weak Internet signal. I wonder if this is done on purpose? So that no one fiddles with the phone during a funeral.

Alla Helgons Dag (All Souls' Day) 2017

4 November 2017

I hurried back from Shockholm Festival (Halloween celebration) to see how All Souls' Day is observed in Stockholm. It is called Alla Helgons Dag (pronounced as 'ah-la hell-gones dog') in Swedish. This is a day for the Christians to remember those who left. I am aware of this day because I visit my late aunt on this day (and her death anniversary), light up candles and set flowers for her. But we do it during the day whereas here in Stockholm is done at night.

A week before the actual day, there were lots of mini wreaths being sold. SEK225/RM112.50 - They labelled it as grave decoration. While the larger ones cost SEK295/RM147.50. I thought they were really expensive but people buy them anyway.

My partner and I went to Skogskyrkogården (pronounced as 'skogs-sheer-ko-gor-den'). English name is The Woodland Cemetery. This is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Sweden. One of the UNESCO sites. This is a cemetery, by the way.  A huge one too. The first time I went there in 2015, I got lost finding my way out and thankfully, it was bright daylight. Anyway, the cemetery was brightly lit with so many candles. The skies were bright from all the candles. They are a sight to behold. It was my first time seeing candles stored in bottles or jars to prevent the fires from dying or blown by the wind.