All Souls Day is dedicated to remembering and praying for all the faithful departed, especially souls believed to be undergoing purification in purgatory before entering heaven, according to Catholic theology. Traditions include attending special masses, lighting candles, and visiting cemeteries to tend graves and offer prayers on behalf of loved ones who have died. In some cultures, this observance overlaps with or runs alongside distinct local traditions honoring the dead—such as Día de los Muertos in Mexico—though these often carry their own separate customs, symbols, and history beyond the Catholic liturgical calendar.