Halloween Traditions Around The World

Halloween, one of the world's oldest holidays, is still celebrated today in several countries around the globe. The autumn rite is commemorated in the United Kingdom, although with a surprising and distinctive British twist. In Mexico, Latin America, and Spain, All Souls' Day, the third day of the three-day Hallowmas observance, is the most important part of the celebration for many people. In Ireland and Canada, Halloween, which was once a frightening and superstitious time of year, is celebrated much as it is here in the United States, with trick-or-treating, costume parties, and fun for all ages.



In Mexico, Latin America, and Spain, All Souls' Day, which takes place on November 2, is commemorated with a three-day celebration that begins on the evening of October 31. The celebration is designed to honor the dead who, it is believed, return to their earthly homes on Halloween. Many families construct an altar to the dead in their homes to honor deceased relatives and decorate it with candy, flowers, photographs, samples of the deceased's favorite foods and drinks, and fresh water. Often, a wash basin and towel are left out so that the spirit can wash before indulging in the feast. Candles and incense are burned to help the deceased find the way home. Relatives also tidy the gravesites of their departed family members. This can include snipping weeds, making repairs, and painting. The grave is then decorated with flowers, wreaths, or paper streamers. On November 2, relatives gather at the gravesite to picnic and reminisce. Some gatherings even include tequila and a mariachi band! Celebrations honoring departed loved ones and family members are found as far back as ancient Egyptian times.



On the evening of November 5, bonfires are lit throughout England. Effigies are burned and fireworks are set off. Although it falls around the same time and has some similar traditions, this celebration has little to do with Halloween or the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. The English, for the most part, stopped celebrating Halloween as Martin Luther's Protestant Reformation began to spread. As followers of the new religion did not believe in saints, they had no reason to celebrate the eve of All Saints' Day. However, a new autumn ritual did emerge. Guy Fawkes Day festivities were designed to commemorate the execution of a notorious English traitor, Guy Fawkes.

On November 5, 1606, Fawkes was executed after being convicted of attempting to blow up England's parliament building. Fawkes was a member of a Catholic group who wanted to remove the Protestant King James from power. The original Guy Fawkes Day was celebrated right after his execution. The first bonfires, which were called "bone fires," were set up to burn effigies and symbolic "bones" of the Catholic pope. It was not until two centuries later that effigies of the pope were replaced with those of Guy Fawkes. In addition to making effigies to be burned in the fires, children in some parts of England also walk the streets carrying an effigy or "guy" and ask for "a penny for the guy," although they keep the money for themselves. This is as close to the American practice of "trick-or-treating" as can be found in England today. Guy Fawkes Day was even celebrated by the pilgrims at the first settlement at Plymouth. However, as the young nation began to develop its own history, Guy Fawkes was celebrated less frequently and eventually died out.



In Ireland, where Halloween originated, the day is still celebrated much as it is in the United States. In rural areas, bonfires are lit as they were in the days of the Celts, and all over the country, children get dressed up in costumes and spend the evening "trick-or-treating" in their neighborhoods. After trick-or-treating, most people attend parties with neighbors and friends. At the parties, many games are played, including "snap-apple," a game in which an apple on a string is tied to a doorframe or tree and players attempt to bite the hanging apple. In addition to bobbing for apples, parents often arrange treasure hunts, with candy or pastries as the "treasure." The Irish also play a card game where cards are laid face down on a table with candy or coins underneath them. When a child chooses a card, he receives whatever prize is found below it.

A traditional food eaten on Halloween is barnbrack, a kind of fruitcake that can be bought in stores or baked at home. A muslin-wrapped treat is baked inside the cake that, it is said, can foretell the eater's future. If a ring is found, it means that the person will soon be wed; a piece of straw means that a prosperous year is on its way. Children are also known to play tricks on their neighbors, such as "knock-a-dolly," a prank in which children knock on the doors of their neighbors, but run away before the door is opened.



Halloween In Romania

Customs and superstitions gathered through the ages go into our celebration of Halloween,or "Holy Eve",on October 31.The day is so named because it is the eve of the festival of All Saints,but many of the beliefs and observances connected with it arose long before the Christian Era ,in the autumn festivals of pegan peoples.

The ancient Druids had a three-day celebration at the beginning of November. On the eve before ,they believed ,spirits of the dead roamed abroad,and they lighted bofires to drive them away.In ancient Rome the festivals of Pomona, goddess of fruits and gardens ,occurred at about this time of the year .It was an occasion of rejoicing associated with the harvest ;and nuts and apples ,as symbols of the winter store of fruit, were roasted before huge bonfires. Even after November 1 became a Christian feast day, honoring all saints, the peasants clug to the old pagan beliefs and customs that had grown up about Halloween .It became a night of mystery and fun making,with many picturesque superstitions.Folk came to believe that they could fortell the future on that night by performing such rites as jumping over lighted candles.In the British Isles great bonfires blazed.Laughing bands of "guisers," young people disguised in grotesque masks and carrying lanterns carved from turpins,gathered in each village.Their rollicking fun and cherished superstitions are described in Robert Burns's famous poem"Halloween," Halloween celebrations today keep many of these early customs unchanged.Young and old still gather to hunt nuts and to duck for apples bobbing in a tub of water.Grinning pumpkin jack-o"-lanterns,rustling cornstalks,and white -sheet figures create an air of mystery,and black paper witches and cats are used for party decorations.

Halloween is a favourite"special day"for school celebrations,when people hold costume parties, play old -fashioned games,and give clever plays and pageants based on the ancient customs. Frequently whole communities gather for a Halloween festival,as did the villagers of earlier days.



Halloween in Germany

In Germany people put their knives away. This is done as they do not want to risk hurting the returning spirits.



Halloween in Austria

In Austria, some people leave bread, water, and a lighted lamp on the table when they go to bed. The reason why it is done is that it was believed by doing so it would welcome the dead souls back to earth for this particular night was a night of strong cosmic energies.

Halloween in Belgium

In Belgium people believed that it was bad luck for a black cat to cross your path. It was believed that it was unlucky for a black cat also to come into their homes or travel on their ships. In Belgium people light candles in memory of their dead relatives



Halloween in China



In China the Hallowe'en festival is known as Teng Chieh in which food and water are placed in front of photographs of relatives of people. Bonfires and lanterns are lit to light the spirits path back to earth.

Halloween in Czechoslavakia



In Czechoslovakia chairs are placed by the fireside. There is a chair for each family member and one for each family members spririt.



Halloween in Hong Kong

In Hong Kong there is a festival similar to Hallowe'en. During the Hungry Ghosts Festival or Yue Lan, ghosts and spirits roam the world for 24 hours. Some people burn pictures of fruit or money. This was believed to reach the spirit world and comfort the ghosts on this day.



Halloween in Italy

In Italy they make cakes in the shape of beans. These cakes are called Beans of the Dead.

Halloween in Japan

In Japan O-Bon festival celebrates the memory of the dead relatives. Food and water is placed in front of photos of the dead. Bonfires and lanterns light the spirits' path back to earth.

Halloween in the Philipines

In the Philipines people light candles in the memory of their dead relatives.

Halloween in Poland

In Poland doors and windows are left open to welcome the spirits or the visiting souls.

Halloween in Portugal

In Portugal they have feasts of wine and chestnuts at the cemetery. In Portugal they bake special sugar cakes with cinnamon and herb flavoring.

Halloween in Russia

In Russia the blue cat is said to bring good luck. Blue cats such as Russian Blue, British Blue and Burmese.

Halloween in Spain

In Spain the black cat is considered to be bad luck, especially if you let it cross your path, come into your home or even onto your ship. In Spain also a special pastry known as the Bones of the Holy is eaten on this day.



Animal Superstitions

Black Cats In America some people believed in the magical powers of black cats. Certain bones on the cat has the power to make wishes come true, or even to make one invisible. In Europe, the black cats had nasty connections with witches.

White Cats The White Cat in England, at Halloween, is thought to the be unlucky.

Blue Cats The Blue Cat in Russia brings good luck. The "Blue" is often viewed as a "gray" cat.



Snails Some believe if you catch a snail on Halloween night and lock it into a flat dish, then in the morning you will see the first letter of your sweetheart written in the snail's slime.

Owls Many people used to believe that owls swooped down to to eat the souls of the dying. If they heard an owl hooting, they would become frightened. A common remedy was thought to be, turning your pockets inside out and you would be safe.

Bats In ancient November Samhain festivals, bats would swoop over blazing fires to eat the mosquitoes



General Superstitions:

No Talking at the dinner table 'The Dumb Supper' was brought to America by the Africans. The is an eerie Hallowmas meal - where nobody is allowed to speak, not even whisper. It encourages spirits to come to the table.

Nutcracker Night In Britain, people believed that the Devil was a nut-gatherer. At Halloween, nuts were used as magic charms.

Husband Finding If a girl puts a sprig of rosemary herb and a silver sixpence under her pillow on Halloween night, she will see her future husband in a dream.



fordi altid hen til mig elske JEG elske jer

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