All Saint's Day (All Hallows' Day) is on November 1st, the day after Halloween, and it is observed in Christianity as a day to celebrate all of the saints. The following day (2 November) is known as "All Souls' Day", which commemorates those who have departed. Some countries consider November 1 as a holiday, and families often light candles and put flowers on graves. The day was most likely observed as a replacement or Christianisation of the Celtic pagan harvest festival Samhain.
In Poland, families celebrate All Saints' Day by remembering the dead. Families visit cemetaries and memorials to light candles and leave flowers. Ruislip in West London is noted for RAF Northolt where squadrons of Polish pilots helped defend the skies. Many lost their lives, and a memorial is located off a roundabout on the A40 into Ruislip. Known as the Polish War Memorial, the memorial commemorates the squadrons by name, location, and battle. The walls of the memorial contain all of the known names of those who gave their lives. Each year, people who live in the community visit the Polish War Memorial to light candles and pay their respects.
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