Come pay your respects to your loved ones and experience the beauty of the candlelit cemetery. On All Saint’s Day, Helsinki cemeteries, these gardens of death will bloom with light in honour of the deceased.

Below, you can view the programme for each individual cemetery; Hietaniemi, Malmi, Kulosaari, and Östersundom Cemeteries and the Maunula Urn Cemetery.

Parish employees, priests, early childhood educators, and volunteers are present at each cemetery during the event. If you feel like talking to someone, we are here for you. Families with children can walk our Path of Angels, which offers small tasks and activities that you can do together. Please bring your own flashlight, cemetery candle and matches. The event takes place outdoors, so please dress accordingly.

Admission to the event is free. A warm welcome to all!

Helsinki cemeteries are open around the clock from Thursday the 30th of October until Monday 3rd of November.

Hietaniemi Cemetery

• ‍4-7 pm: Warm berry cordial and moments of connection. Enjoy a hot beverage at the New or Old Chapel. If you wish, you can have a chat with parish employees who will be present.
• 4-7 pm: Path of Angels for families with children. You’d be wise to bring a torch for this expedition! On the Path of Angels, you’ll journey through light and shadow, discover angels, and carry out small tasks.
• 4:30 pm and 5:30 pm: Cemetery employee Hannu Aho gives a tour of Hietaniemi Cemetery. The tour is available in Finnish only, no interpretation available. The tour starts at the Artists’ Hill and lasts for approximately 30 minutes.
• 4:30-7:30 pm: DJ Mikko’s Hietsu Ambient at the New Chapel. Mikko Saari plays calming, meditative ambient music. Lights by Markus Kartano.
• 4-7 pm: You are warmly welcome to send greetings and thoughts to heaven, and to pause for a moment with beautiful music in the Old Chapel. Music by Santeri Karttunen (4:00-4:45 pm), Silvia and Vivika Oksanen (5:00-5:30 pm, and Trio Joska Josafat: Teemu Eerola and Markku Lepistö (5:45-7:00 pm)
• 4-6:30 pm: Choir performances at different locations on the cemetery. Salonkikuoro at the Monument to past generations and the deceased buried elsewhere bronze (4:15-5:00 pm), Kilven kuoro at the bell tower of the New Chapel (at 5:00 pm and 5:30 pm), Desibeli at the Empty Arms Memorial (at 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm) and Värinä along the main walkway, near the Artists’ Hill (at 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm).

Malmi Cemetery

‍The Malmi Chapel is divided into three distinct spaces, the Main Chapel, the East Chapel, and the West Chapel. In the Main Chapel, different musical devotions are held every hour. The East Chapel will host a nature-themed space for quiet reflection on All Saints’ Day, and in the West Chapel children especially are invited to draw and write about their feelings of longing for a loved one who has passed away.

Parish employees and volunteers are present and offer warm beverages all day from 12 noon until 7 pm.

Musical devotions in the Malmi Chapel every hour:

• 12 noon musical devotion in Swedish. Musician Elina Tofferi (piano, organ, and vocals) and pastor Ronny Thylin.
• 1 pm and 2 pm musical devotion in Finnish. Ilona Nyman, cello.
• 3 pm bilingual musical devotion in Finnish and English. Karina Shyroo, vocals.
• 4 pm musical devotion in Finnish. Mari Torri-Tuominen, piano and vocals, and Sirja Puurtinen, violin.
• 5 pm devotion for families in Finnish. Mari Torri-Tuominen and Lissu Elenius; piano, guitar, and vocals.
• 6 pm and 7 pm musical devotion in Finnish. Lissu Elenius and Malmin enkelit choir.

The Path og Angels, designed for families with children, begins at the West Chapel. There, you can linger in memories for a moment and draw or write messages of longing. Along the path, children will find a small obstacle course, simple tasks, and other angel-themed activities. Feel free to bring your own torch.

In the East Chapel, the cemetery’s natural surroundings unfold to create a nature-themed space for quiet reflection and remembrance.

Belenos Group of Arts performs light shows in the square in front of the chapels at 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm.

Local scouts and guides from Viikin Vesikot will run a food stand, where you can buy sausages and pancakes. The food stand is located behind the cemetery’s waiting area and will be open from 4 pm until 7 pm on All Saints’ Day.

Restaurant Check-In/La Bamba at the Malmi Cemetery is open on All Saints’ Day from 12 noon until 6 pm. Salmon soup (L, G) or sweet potato soup and coffee (V, G) for €12.50.

Maunula Urn Cemetery

‍All Saints’ Day devotions near the illuminated tree in the central square at 4:30 pm and 6 pm. Speech and music. The devotions are organised by Pakila parish. Each devotion lasts no more than 30 minutes.

The Path of Angels, an interactive trail designed for families with children, runs from 4 pm to 7 pm. It offers age-appropriate ways to explore themes related to All Saints’ Day. Children can walk the path at their own pace, accompanied by an adult. At each stop, a guide will be present to explain the activity. At the final stop, you can light a candle beside the constellation of the Big Dipper. Bring your own candle and torch!

Warm glögg (non-alcoholic) served near the entrance from 4 pm until 7 pm.

Leposaari Cemetery

‍Bilingual All Saints Day devotion in Finnish and Swedish at the Kulosaari Chapel at 3 pm.

The chapel is open from 4 pm until 7 pm, employees and warm glögg (non-alcoholic) and gingerbread are served. Path of Angels for children and families.

Östersundom Cemetery

‍Östersundom Church is open from 4 pm until 6 pm on All Saints’ Day. Employees are present and glögg and gingerbread served.

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