The point of this day is basically to help souls that have not managed to reach the beatific vision of heaven, achieve that goal. According to Christian belief, souls that have not been cleansed of venial sins or of mortal sins, and therefore have not reached heaven, can be helped by the prayers of the living. There are also researchers who claim that there are pagan roots to these rituals. Today, in certain communities, it is believed that the dead return to their homes and there are costumes which are in accordance with this belief.