It’s the end of October. The weather is getting colder, the leaves are changing colors and falling down. Halloween is here!
Every year this time, people decorate their homes and offices, store shelves become stocked with costumes and lots of candy. No matter what age you are, Halloween seems to be just as festive as the year before.
Halloween, Allhalloween, or All Hallows’ Eve is one of the world’s oldest holidays, dating back to pagan times. It celebrates the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead.
Some believe that Halloween is an American holiday. How about Halloween around the world? Let’s find out different versions of this spooky holiday!
Europe
In Ireland, believed to be the birthplace of Halloween, the tradition is still celebrated as much as it is in the United States. An Irish Halloween consists of a bonfire, party games, and tricks played on friends and neighbors.
“Süß oder saueres!” is what you might hear children trick-or-treating in Germany say when they knock on your door. If you’re in Germany on Halloween, make sure to hide the knives. Germans put away all their knives on Halloween night to avoid any conflict with evil spirits. Austrians leave bread, water and a lighted lamp on the table to welcome the dead souls back to earth for one night, while Czechs remember their departed family members by leaving empty chairs for them in front of the fireplace.
In Italy, they have a traditional Halloween recipe, which is kind of an oval cookie a bit like a macaron. It’s called Fave dei Morti, which roughly translates as Beans of the Dead.
Over the past few years, other European countries have slowly started embracing this ghoulish festivity, including Denmark and Poland, whereas, in a few regions of Russia, Halloween has been reportedly banned.
Mexico, Latin America, and Spain
Among Spanish-speaking nations, Halloween is known as “El Día de los Muertos.” Or Day of the Dead a three-day celebration that begins on the evening of October 31 and culminates on November 2.
Asia
Instead of the typical western Halloween, the Chinese celebrate Yu Lan Jie, or the Hungry Ghost Festival. During this holiday, they put foods in front of photographs of dead relatives. And lanterns placed on small paper boats are used to light a path so that spirits wandering the earth may find their way home.
In Hong-Kong they burn pictures of fruit or money to offer comfort to those who have passed over to the other side.
The Hungry Ghosts return in Cambodia too, however in a slightly different celebration. Pchum Ben, or Ancestors Day, is celebrated typically in September and is a time when people collect and give food to monks. In this festival, even souls who are thought to be in hell are allowed to have a break and visit their descendants for respite, though only the ones whose sins are sufficiently reduced in the afterlife can receive food through the monks.
In Korea, the festival similar to Halloween is known as “Chusok.” It is at this time that families thank their ancestors for the fruits of their labor. The “Chusok” festival takes place in the month of August.
In Nepal, they celebrate Gai Jatra, the Festival of Cows, which falls in either August or September. This day people put on fancy dresses and follow cows in the procession to remember those who have died in the year.
There are many more cultures that celebrate festivals of Death worldwide and traveling is definitely the best way to explore them. But before heading off to take part in a Festival of Cows or trying Fave dei Morti in Italy, make sure to download Bluee first.
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Happy & Safe Halloween!
