All Saints Day always falls on November 1 each year, regardless of what day of the week it is on.
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a saint is “one officially recognized especially through canonization as preeminent for holiness; one of the spirits of the departed in heaven; one of God’s chosen and usually Christian people; one eminent for piety or virtue.”
Each religion incorporates the term saint in different ways. The following history describes how saints became known to the Christian religion and as years passed, into the Catholic religion. Throughout history, since the time of Jesus, other religions have used the term ‘saints’ according to each religion’s beliefs.
John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, enjoyed and celebrated All Saints Day. In a journal entry from November 1, 1767, Wesley calls it “a festival I truly love.” On the same day in 1788, he writes, “I always find this a comfortable day.” The following year he calls it “a day that I peculiarly love.”
