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During a year in which the coronavirus has spread, many people have lost loved ones. But according to a survey by Fonus and Kantar Sifo Funeral Home, 55 percent of Swedes feel they have not been able to say goodbye to family members as they wanted.
On Saturday, All Saints’ Day, part of Humlegården was lit by 450 heart-shaped candles. The candles had been commissioned by relatives across the country who wanted to honor deceased relatives. On a poster about the burning heart were the names of each of these 450 who had died in covid-19.
– It is very important that people can light a candle, many have not even been able to bury their loved ones this year, says Mio Rubin de Fonus who was present.
Mio Rubin at the memorial site.
Photo: Nicklas Thegerström
The memorial site was temporary, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., but appreciated, says Mio Rubin:
– Many have come by during the day and have said “oh, how beautiful and important” and have said that they would like to see a permanent memorial site.
How did you feel with all the candles?
– For me, it felt dignified, beautiful and important. To honor those you lost. I have personally lost one of the people whose names are there, he says.
That many could honor their loved ones in Humlegården without attending themselves was in line with the recommendations that have expired this Halloween weekend. In a joint campaign, the city of Stockholm, the Stockholm region and the Church of Sweden have called on Stockholm residents to avoid congestion in cemeteries.
Also read: Campaign to prevent congestion during All Saints’ Day
Still, the DN photographer was able to claim that Skogskyrkogården on Saturday looked almost like a normal Halloween weekend. The crowds of Stockholm locals who went there occasionally caused traffic jams in Nynäsvägen.
Crowds of people outside Skogskyrkogården.
Photo: Nicklas Thegerström
