When Is All Souls Day?

All Souls Day is a solemn commemoration of those who have died and are now in Purgatory. When is All Souls Day?

How Is the Date of All Souls Day Determined?

All Souls Day was originally celebrated in the Easter season, close to Pentecost Sunday. By the 13th century, however, under the influence of the Benedictine and Carthusian religious orders, the Church began to pair All Souls Day with All Saints Day, the day on which we celebrate all those who have died in faith and now are in Heaven. Since the date of All Saints Day was established as November 1 by Pope Gregory IV in the ninth century, it was natural to celebrate All Souls Day on the following day, November 2.

All Souls Day in the Extraordinary Form of the Mass

In the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite (the Novus Ordo), All Souls Day is always celebrated on November 2. However, in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (the Traditional Latin Mass), when November 2 falls on a Sunday, the commemoration of All Souls Day is transferred to the following day, November 3.

Why? Because the Mass celebrated for All Souls Day in the Extraordinary Form is a requiem Mass—a Mass for the dead—and requiem Masses, like funerals, are not permitted on Sundays, which is the day Christians celebrate the Resurrection.

When Is All Souls Day This Year?

Here is the date and day of the week of All Souls Day this year:

• All Souls Day 2017: Thursday, November 2, 2017

Free a Soul From Purgatory on All Souls Day

A plenary indulgence, which applies only to the Holy Souls in Purgatory, can be gained on All Souls Day. By fulfilling the conditions of the indulgence, you can release a soul from Purgatory. It's a good way to remember a family member or friend who has died in the past year, or to exercise Christian charity on behalf of a soul in Purgatory who has no one to pray for him. You can learn more about the All Souls Day indulgence, and how to obtain it, in All Souls Day and Why Catholics Celebrate It.

And remember: If you have a church in your area that celebrates the Traditional Latin Mass, you can obtain the All Souls Day indulgence twice in years when November 2 falls on Sunday—once by attending a Novus Ordo Mass on November 2; and again by attending the Latin Mass on November 3.

When Is All Souls Day in Future Years?

Here are the dates and days of the week when All Souls Day will fall in future years:

• All Souls Day 2018: Friday, November 2, 2018
• All Souls Day 2019: Saturday, November 2, 2019 
• All Souls Day 2020: Monday, November 2, 2020
• All Souls Day 2021: Tuesday, November 2, 2021
• All Souls Day 2022: Wednesday, November 2, 2022
• All Souls Day 2023: Thursday, November 2, 2023
• All Souls Day 2024: Saturday, November 2, 2024
• All Souls Day 2025: Sunday, November 2, 2025 (transferred to Monday, November 3, 2025, in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite)
• All Souls Day 2026: Monday, November 2, 2026
• All Souls Day 2027: Tuesday, November 2, 2027
• All Souls Day 2028: Thursday, November 2, 2028
• All Souls Day 2029: Friday, November 2, 2029
• All Souls Day 2030: Saturday, November 2, 2030

When Was All Souls Day in Previous Years?

Here are the dates and days of the week when All Souls Day fell in previous years, going back to 2007:​

• All Souls Day 2007: Friday, November 2, 2007
• All Souls Day 2008: Sunday, November 2, 2008 (transferred to Monday, November 3, 2008, in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite)
• All Souls Day 2009: Monday, November 2, 2009
• All Souls Day 2010: Tuesday, November 2, 2010
• All Souls Day 2011: Wednesday, November 2, 2011
• All Souls Day 2012: Friday, November 2, 2012
• All Souls Day 2013: Saturday, November 2, 2013
• All Souls Day 2014: Sunday, November 2, 2014 (transferred to Monday, November 3, 2014, in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite)
• All Souls Day 2015: Monday, November 2, 2015
• All Souls Day 2016: Wednesday, November 2, 2016