Today, All Saint’s Day, is when Poles visit cemeteries to pay respects to loved ones passed away. The cemetery in Brodno in north Warsaw is one of the largest in Europe, with over 1,250,000 buried there.

All Soul’s Day falls on November 2, following All Saint’s Day.

All Souls’ Day began in Poland back in the 12th century. Poles light candles at the graves of the dead and also place flowers and wreaths at the graves of family members.

Warsaw’s most famous cemetery is at Powazkowski where many of the nation’s most respected Poles rest, including Nobel prize winner Władyslaw Reymont and also the 'grave' of Stefan Starzynski, the mayor of Warsaw at the time of the German invasion though his body was never found.

The Powazki Cemetery has begun its annual fund-raising initiative for the renovation of the historic tombs.

Imitated by the late music critic Jerzy Waldorff, the tradition is carried on by a group of actors, musicians and journalists. Over 200 people are collecting money this weekend.

Last year’s contributions made it possible to reconstruct 18 gravestones and chapels. Head of the Civic Committee for Custody over Old Powazki, Marcin Swiecicki, hopes this year Warsaw residents will continue to support such efforts:

“I would like to invite everyone to the 35th collection held at the Powazki Cemetery, from 9 am until the evening. Warsaw’s most distinguished actors, including Alina Janowska, Maja Komorowska, Damian Damiecki, Ewa Kuklińska, will gather at the site to raise money towards the renovation of the cemetery,” he said.

Sums collected during the holidays rise from year to year. In 2007, funds raised reached 217,000 zloty (over 50,000 euro) and increased by 50,000 zloty (about 12,000 euro) last year.

Road death toll down

The weekend is also traditionally one where there is a high accident rate on Poland’s roads. But this year, anoince police, since Friday 27 people have been killed in traffic accidents and 285 injured. Though high this is around half the casualty rate compared to the same time last year.

Police have stopped 830 drunk drivers already this weekend, however, despite a high profile police presence at road traffic accident black spots. (pg/ab)