All Saints Day in Dravtsi

November 1st - All Saints Day. Unlike in America, this is a major religious holiday here. Everyone goes out to the graves of their relatives in the morning, cleans them, plants flowers, brings new wreaths and candles. Then in the afternoon, a religious service is held for the souls of the departed, with the priest blessing every grave, reading the names of the deceased, while a chorus sings in the background. This goes on for hours. Also relatives have a chance to see people they haven't seen in a while. I met quite a few relatives whom I hadn't met before.

Marta and Klara's parents, Elizabeth and Mikola Silvasi

Ivan's parents, and grandmother, Yuri and Irina Maksimovich, and Maria Pashko

My grandfather's sister, Maria Matsko

My grandmother's sister Verona and her husband Ivan Silvasi; also buried in the same grave is my grandmother's mother, Mari Toth Tseholnyai

My grandmother's father, Mihailo Tseholnyai

The husband of my grandmother's niece Elizabeth -  Ivan Hlivka

My grandmother's niece Irina

and Irina's husband Emerich Hoidra

My grandmother's niece Mariya and her husband Yuri Gombosh

The wife of my grandfather's nephew Mihailo Vasko, Magdaline

Julius Kish's mother, Maria. Julius is married to Marta's daughter Tanya

Elizabeth's younger daughter Olga, her daughter and granddaughter

Amixture of grain and raisins to be eaten at the cemetery, with bread and wine

Marta Didyk and her family

The grave of Irina Hoidra's son, Volodya

Josef Molnar's brother Volodya. Josef is married to Natalya, Elizabeth's oldest daughter

Josef Molnar's parents

Olga, Alla, Natalya, Josef, Josef's niece, and Josef's sister-in-law

Sasha, his mother and aunt, their mother Marina (Marisa Gombosh's daughter)

My grandfather's brother Andrew

Andrew's first wife, Anna

Bejla Vasko at his mother's grave. She was Andrew's 2nd wife

My grandfather's nephew Ivan Matsko and wife Olena. Ivan was son of Maria Matsko

Yuri Mihailovich Vasko, Bejla Vasko and wife Anna. Yuri is son of Mihail, son of Andrew

Andrew Vasko, with first wife, daughters, and baby son Mihail

Mihail Vasko and wife Magdalena

Mihailo's grandson Evgeny. Evgeny is son of Yura.

on right, Mihailo Andeyevich Vasko. He is 84.

Mihailo's son Mihail. In back in doorway is Yuri's eldest son Sasha

Mihailo's wife, his two daughters, and granddaughter

It will take me a few days to organize everyone's names!