From our selection of photo you will learn how other countries celebrate Halloween and how they all differ.
Although it is only one night a year, Halloween is one of the biggest and most favorite holidays in North America.
People spend a lot of money on costumes, candy and decorations, all preparing for this event. The main goal is not only to share the treats, but also to scare each other. People dress up as fictional, bloodthirsty creatures, terrifying to bystanders. But in the world there are many countries who see this holiday as a day of respect for the deceased, and not just a fun party. In fact Halloween is a very spiritual day in some countries. It would be interesting to learn how other countries celebrate Halloween and how they all differ?
In Austria in the celebration of Halloween people leave water, bread and a lit lamp on the table just before bedtime. It is believed that on this night, it would facilitate the return of dead souls to the Earth. Austrian Catholics use this time to celebrate Seleenwoche, also known as the week of All Saints, between 30th October and 2nd November. During this time, families decorate the graves of their loved ones with lanterns and wreaths. On the last day Seleenwoche, the churches are large Requiem mass.
In China, Halloween is called Teng Chieh and it is held every year. On this day, the Chinese put food and water in front of photographs of their dead relatives. Also lit bonfires and lanterns burning in the hope to show the spirits the way back to Earth. In Buddhist temples make paper boats called “boats of the law”, which later burned in the evening. This is done for two reasons: in the memory of the dead and to free spirits, “the Preta,” so they could climb to the sky. “Preta” is the spirits of those who died in the accident and whose bodies were never buried. These wandering spirits are considered dangerous and therefore many perform rituals to help them in their journey to the afterlife.
Instead of having to cut out Halloween faces on the pumpkins in England are cut beets called “punkies”. Then the children take their “Punkies” and go from door to door, asking for money. In some areas in front of the house are installed in these cut reach lanterns to scare away spirits that roam on Halloween night. According to another tradition, the fire throwing stones, chestnuts and vegetables, also hoping to scare away the spirits. Also performed divination. For example, if a pebble were thrown into the fire and was no longer visible the next morning, it was believed that the person who tossed the pebble would not survive another year. Now more and more British children adopt the American tradition of celebrating Halloween.
The French did not celebrate Halloween in honor of the dead until recently. Although they have heard about Halloween from foreigners and American media, the French did not celebrate Halloween until the mid 1990-ies. Now, as in the American Halloween, French dress up in costumes and go from house to house to get candy. Halloween is American holiday and for this reason, many French residents do not know what is celebrated.
Most people think of Ireland the birthplace of Halloween and it really seems to be true. This tradition of celebration not so different from the well-known American celebrations of Halloween. As in the United States, the Irish dress up in monsters, scare the neighbors, go to parties and beg for candy. Very popular in the day, the game “Snap-Apple”. An Apple hung on a tree or door frame, and then the players are trying to jump and bite a piece of it.
In Mexico, Halloween is called “El Dia de Los Muertos” or the days of the dead. The event begins on the evening of 31 October and ends 2 November. On this day people spend at the graves of fallen loved ones, hold picnics and celebrations in their honor. The dead are believed to return to their homes that night, so the altars are made of candy, flowers, water, photos, favorite food and drink. On November 2, families have picnics at the graves of their loved ones.
The Japanese do not celebrate Halloween the same way Americans do. Instead, the Japanese celebrate the Obon festival, also known as Matsuri or Urabon. This festival is dedicated to the spirits of their ancestors. Red lancers hanging around the area for festivals, and candles, lit and placed into lanterns which are sent to sail rivers and seas. “Welcoming fires” are lit to guide the spirits back to their homes, and then “send-off fires” are lit after the festivities are over with. For those who are in the city, small fires are lit and placed in the memory of the dead, remain outside quickly.
In the Philippines — like most countries — Halloween is more focused on the dead people. Although the influence of American Halloween is gradually starting to spread to the Philippines, the tradition of the holiday Pangangalaga still strong. People go from house to house and sing songs about the souls languishing in purgatory, and in exchange ask for food or money.
Halloween has been celebrated in Scotland in the 16th century. The first people on Halloween foretold, and he feared for the future. Therefore, in the 18th century on Halloween, most young people were looking for a spouse. Costumes were common during Halloween in the late 19th century. Dressed in costumes of the forest spirits, the children went from door to door asking for food or money. This is very similar to the traditions of the modern American Halloween.
American Halloween is today the most popular and well-known way of celebrating this holiday. The children can dress up in any scary or horrible costumes and go from door to door, scaring people, showing scenes and sing songs, resulting in bring home bags of candy. There are costume parties and receptions where people play games, eat and drink. Of pumpkins cut out faces, set a candle inside and these improvised lanterns have become one of the most distinctive symbols of Halloween.
