Traditionally, on All Saints’ Day, Luxembourgers assemble at cemeteries across the country in order to honour the dead and witness the priest blessing the graves during a special ceremony. 

However, due to covid-19 infections skyrocketing in Luxembourg over the past few days, the episcopal council announced on Friday that it would cancel ceremonies across the country on 1 and 2 November as well as on the days before and after. 

Whereas priests and deacons are encouraged to go ahead with the blessings of cemeteries, they should do so without indicating specific times and in absence of other people.

In a press conference on Wednesday, health minister Paulette Lenert had urged citizens to avoid large gatherings and instead go back to the “Bleift doheem (stay home)” attitude that had dominated during the lockdown in March.