All Saints Day, a Roman Catholic Holy Day, will soon arrive on November first, the day after Halloween. In parts of Louisiana, people celebrated this day by visiting the graves and tombs of departed family members and dear friends. Stones were cleaned and white-washed, flowers and mementos were brought along to decorate the graves, and visitors picnicked at the site. In New Orleans, street vendors sold tiny carved skeletons and sugar skulls. Besides providing enthusiastic community care for the graves and cemeteries, the Holy Day (and city holiday) gave death a nod, and a day to remember those buried there.

Austin State Hospital Cemetery, Austin, Texas, 3-29-12