The observance of All Saints Day in France is a religious ritual of Roman Catholicism. Turner (1982) describes religious rituals as having three stages. These are the communication of sacra , the encouragement of ludic recombination, and the fostering of communitas (Turner 1982). All Saints Day has connections to all of these traits. It is not a rite of passage like a baptism, wedding or funeral would be in the Catholic Church. Rather, it is a process of solemn remembrance and celebration more akin to Christmas, Lent or Easter in Christianity.

  The communication of the sacra involves myths about religion. Sacra is latin for sacred things, and in Catholicism this refers to the stories of the bible and the teachings of Jesus Christ. These doctrines of Christianity are communicated through the various celebrations and holidays of the Christian calendar (Turner 1982).

  In France on All Saints Day, the sacra are communicated in several ways. One of the main ways that sacra are communicated is through the display of sacred objects. Icons of saints and martyrs are often displayed in homes and churches. These are used to teach of the great deeds and faith of these Christians, who are the patrons of All Saints Day. Sacra is also communicated through actions, such as the ritual laying of chrysanthemum wreaths on grave stones which conveys the importance of honoring those who spread the Gospel of Christ and those who have died and gone to Paradise (Turner 1982).

  Ludic recombination, somewhat bizarre and playful behavior, is often an important part of religious ceremonies and rituals. During All Saints Day, churches in France are decorated with colorful banners and flowers (Nehring 2003). For a day that is often seen as a somber remembrance of the dead, these bright colors might seem out of place. Yet the ludic recombination is meant to help communicate the sacra (Turner 1982). All Saints Day is more than an observance; it is a celebration of the saints and martyrs, a celebration of victory over death and eternal life. The decorations, including the bright wreaths of chrysanthemums laid on graves, are a way to remind people that while death is a sad reality of life, the idea of eternal life in paradise is joyful.

  Another form of ludic recombination seen on All Saints Day in France is an activity of French children. On All Saints Day at night, French children play games in the graveyards. These games include hide-and-go-seek and others (Nehring 2003). They also like to play tricks on late night visitors to the cemeteries. One of the most popular tricks is to light candles and put them inside skulls in the dark corners of the graveyard to startle or scare late night visitors (Nehring 2003).

  The fostering of communitas is also an important part of religious rituals, like All Saints Day. Communitas is the idea that people are connected together through the ritual in a feeling of unity. Erickson (1996) states that cultural roles are largely based on class stratification (Erickson 1996). Because of the differences in class, the ritual often involves leveling mechanism, something that takes away social distinctions (Turner 1982).On All Saints Day, this leveling mechanism is the realization that death is universal. Class, economic status and race division disappear as this fact that death is inevitable is hammered home. This is not a morbid fact, rather simply a reminder of the fragility of life. This idea makes people feel more equal with one another.

  Communitas is further fostered by the dinners and family reunions that follow mass and cemetery visits. Stories are told about the dead, both humorous and serious. This is a way of honoring the dead and their memory (Nehring 2003). This reminiscing serves to bring families closer together by connecting them through common memories, as well as spending time with one another.

  The French feel that it is very important to maintain piece of their national identity. All Saints Day provides this opportunity. With modern globalization, many of the French fell that their culture is being eroded. The continued celebration of All Saints Day provides the French with a way to maintain their national identity. Cross-culturally, religion has become less important than secular goals, in part because of the idea that religion is the cause of many conflicts in the world (Betkowski 2004). In France this is no different. According to Human Rights Without Frontiers International (2004), only eight percent of French Catholics actively practice their religion. While Catholicism has been a major force in French history, it has become less important in everyday life. All Saints Day is one of the few days of the year that many of the French attend mass and rekindle their Catholic ties. It is in this manner that the French are able to hold on to a part of their culture that they feel is slipping away.