Events

On All Saints' Day, families decorate graves beyond chrysanthemums

On the occasion of All Saints' Day, many families go to cemeteries to decorate the graves of their loved ones, beyond the traditional chrysanthemum.

What becomes of abandoned graves in French cemeteries

On the occasion of All Saints' Day, an update is given on the fate of abandoned burial plots, due to a lack of relatives to tend them, while others are cleaned and flowered.

The tradition of chrysanthemums on graves is fading on All Saints' Day

On 1 November, elderly people observe that the custom of decorating graves with chrysanthemums is losing ground, particularly among younger generations.

In Seine-et-Marne, a farm prepares thousands of chrysanthemums for All Saints' Day

Ahead of All Saints' Day, a family farm in Seine-et-Marne is preparing thousands of pots of chrysanthemums, a flower that has also become an indoor decoration item.

All Saints' Day: families gather in cemeteries

On this Sunday, November 1, families gather in cemeteries to place flowers on the graves of their loved ones on the occasion of All Saints' Day.

Réunion: cemeteries decorated with flowers before All Saints' Day

Ahead of All Saints' Day and the Day of the Dead, cemeteries in Réunion are seeing heavy attendance, with visitors coming to place flowers on graves.

Corbeil-Essonnes: Around a hundred graves desecrated before All Saints' Day

Around a hundred graves have been desecrated at the cemetery in Corbeil-Essonnes just before All Saints' Day, sparking outrage among relatives and an investigation.

24-year-old launches grave-cleaning business

Ahead of All Saints' Day, Louis Dufour, 24, offers a grave-cleaning service for families who are far away or unable to do it themselves.

Alba co-founder recounts remote grave-cleaning in Île-de-France

The Alba service offers individuals the cleaning of the graves of their deceased loved ones, including when they live far away. Its co-founder testifies in a Paris-region cemetery ahead of All Saints' Day.

All Saints' Day marked by reflection in New Caledonia cemeteries

All Saints' Day Sunday saw cemetery attendance peak in New Caledonia, in cities and in tribes alike, ahead of the Day of the Dead.

Mother cannot rest alongside her daughter for administrative reasons

On the occasion of All Saints' Day, Yolaine G. testifies to the administrative impossibility of resting alongside her daughter, who died in 2006, and calls for the rule to be changed.

Chauny: communal plot of cemetery upgraded for All Saints' Day

In Chauny cemetery, the graves in the communal plot have been marked and identified by name, ahead of All Saints' Day.

Grenoble: portrait of Sébastien Roca, cemetery caretaker, ahead of All Saints' Day

On the occasion of All Saints' Day, Sébastien Roca, a cemetery caretaker in Grenoble, talks about his job and his role in welcoming and comforting bereaved families.

Portrait of Rémy, cemetery keeper in Soisy

Ahead of All Saints' Day, a portrait of a cemetery keeper in Soisy who maintains the grounds and supports families.

Portraits of cemetery keepers ahead of All Saints' Day

Report on the daily lives of cemetery keepers, between maintaining the grounds and supporting families.

Castelnaudary: two workers maintain cemeteries for All Saints' Day

Sébastien Turcinski and Nicolas Ragot maintain the three cemeteries of Castelnaudary (Aude) on a daily basis, cleaned and embellished in the run-up to All Saints' Day.

All Saints' Day: Nuñez calls for strengthened security at places of worship and cemeteries

The Interior Minister asks prefects and mayors to mobilize law enforcement and video surveillance to secure Christian places of worship and cemeteries for All Saints' Day.

Grenoble: two funeral stonemasons talk about their trade before All Saints' Day

Two funeral stonemasons from the Grenoble region describe their work, which is in high demand as All Saints' Day approaches.

In Sète, a former nursing assistant retrained in grave maintenance

Anne Satisteban founded the company "Eternel" in Sète three years ago, offering personalized grave maintenance for families living far away, particularly around All Saints' Day.

All Saints' Day: portrait of a thanatopractor from Ain

On the occasion of All Saints' Day, a report presents the profession of thanatopractor, responsible for preparing bodies before funerals.

In Fort-de-France, guided tour of La Levée cemetery for All Saints' Day

About forty people took part on Saturday, October 31, 2026, in a guided tour of La Levée cemetery in Fort-de-France to discover its historical heritage.

All Saints' Day: Professionals maintain graves for families

Professionals offer cleaning, restoration and floral decoration of graves for families who live far away or are elderly, ahead of All Saints' Day.

In southwestern Marne, funeral customs change but traditions endure

As All Saints' Day approaches, funeral advisors in southwestern Marne observe changes in choices between burial, urns and columbaria, without abandoning church services.

In Beaune, municipal workers maintain the town's 15,000-plot cemetery

A team of City of Beaune workers looks after the municipality's only cemetery, with its 15,000 plots, year-round, and details its work as All Saints' Day approaches.

Flower growing for All Saints' Day at the Wagnonville greenhouses

The Wagnonville greenhouses, near Douai, are preparing flowers for All Saints' Day, a peak period for horticulturists.

In Fourmies, florist customers attentive to price and longevity of All Saints' Day flowers

As All Saints' Day approaches, florist customers in Fourmies compare prices and quality of chrysanthemums.

Bastia: management of the Montesoro cemetery ahead of All Saints’ Day

The director of cemeteries in Bastia describes the daily management of the Montesoro cemetery, between burials, maintenance and a lack of space.

Ajaccio: the Canicciu marine cemetery, two centuries of local history

On the occasion of All Saints’ Day, the City of Ajaccio highlights the history of the Canicciu marine cemetery and its funerary heritage.

Companies specialising in grave maintenance and flower placement

Ahead of All Saints’ Day, companies such as Terre de pensées offer to maintain and flower graves for distant families.

Ajaccio: two companies specializing in grave maintenance

Two Ajaccio partners have created companies for cleaning and renovating graves and monuments, a commitment around memory particularly sought after at All Saints' Day.

In Maubeuge, inmates clean Sous-le-Bois cemetery for All Saints' Day

For All Saints' Day, inmates at Maubeuge prison cleaned the Sous-le-Bois cemetery.

Draguignan: Landscaped cemetery caretakers prepare for All Saints' Day

As All Saints' Day approaches, the two caretakers of Draguignan's landscaped cemetery anticipate visitor crowds.

In Foix, municipal worker watches over cemeteries ahead of All Saints' Day

For about twenty years, David Delcol has maintained the cemeteries of Foix, which are welcoming back their visitors ahead of All Saints' Day.

In Roubaix and Tourcoing, stray cats watch over graves

Stray cats live in the cemeteries of Roubaix and Tourcoing, where they are fed and watch over the graves as All Saints' Day approaches.

Decorating graves for All Saints' Day, a tradition resisting the crisis

Despite declining purchasing power, decorating graves for All Saints' Day remains entrenched, with some Bordeaux florists not having raised their prices.

Drought: Mayors reopen cemetery taps despite critical reserves

As water reserves are at a critical level, several mayors have decided to reopen water points in cemeteries ahead of All Saints' Day.

Tarn: A professional maintains graves for families

A profile of Yannick in Tarn, who works in an uncommon profession caring for graves and tombs as All Saints' Day approaches.

On All Saints' Day, chrysanthemums remain the queen flower of cemeteries

On the occasion of November 1, chrysanthemums, produced mainly in Belgium, remain the emblematic flower of All Saints' Day in French cemeteries.

In Lyon, one of the last hand tomb engravers before All Saints' Day

Sylvie, 70, still engraves the names of the deceased by hand in Lyon's cemeteries. She is one of the few craftsmen to carve stone with chisel and mallet.

Nearly half of Basque funerary monuments have disappeared in a century

The Lauburu association is sounding the alarm on All Saints' Day about the disappearance of nearly half of Basque funerary monuments in a century and is calling on mayors.

Le Cannet: Claus cemetery prepared for All Saints' Day

In Le Cannet, teams are maintaining the three hectares and 9,000 plots of the Claus cemetery ahead of All Saints' Day gatherings.

On All Saints' Day, Laura Ouaret maintains graves for families

Laura Ouaret offers to maintain the graves of loved ones for families living far away on the occasion of All Saints' Day.

Cremation increasingly appeals to French people

As All Saints' Day approaches, funeral practices are evolving and cremation is attracting a growing share of French people, while alternatives such as terramation are being experimented with.