Halloween Traditions around the world
By Bayze Bradley & Olivia Namm-Garton
There are many different Halloween traditions around the world, each with its own meaning and way of celebrating. There’s so many creative ways to celebrate, here are some of the most popular places that involve these traditions.
Ireland Their famous “Samhain” Tradition
In Ireland, people are famous for setting off fireworks. They also eat barmbrack, a traditional fruitcake, to celebrate. In addition, bonfires are lit as part of the tradition, and Halloween in Ireland was originally an ancient Irish pagan festival called “Samhain,” which means the end of summer. During Samhain, the Celts wore costumes to disguise themselves and lit bonfires as protection from evil spirits or fairies. The famous “Jack o’ Lantern” comes from the Irish legend of Stingy Jack. The Stingy Jack Legend is when he invited the “Devil” to have a drink with him. Stingy Jack made the devil turn into a coin since he didn’t want to pay for their drinks. This “Legend” made the famous Jack o Lantern activity.
Mexico -day of the dead, Honoring our “ancestors”
In Mexico, they celebrate “Day of the Dead” (Día de los Muertos), which honors ancestors on All Souls’ Day. During this celebration, people decorate sugar skulls, cook traditional food, and much more. Day of the Dead is meant to honor ancestors and remind people that death is a part of life. At night, families gather and visit the graves of their loved ones. At home, people try to build altars to try and welcome dead spirits.
Belgium – lighting candles to honor “deceased ancestors”
In Belgium, people celebrate by lighting candles at night to honor their deceased ancestors. They also enjoy being creative, carving pumpkins, and decorating their homes. Another interesting fact about Belgium, is that they actually don’t trick or treat.
China– Dress up in spooky costumes, & decorate
In China, Halloween isn’t celebrated like in the U.S but it has become more popular in recent years, especially in the big cities. People usually dress up in costumes, and some even go trick-or-treating in shopping malls. There are also parties with spooky decorations, and many enjoy watching horror movies. Instead of ghosts, some people focus on the festival of “Hungry Ghosts,” where they honor spirits by leaving food and burning incense.
England – apple bobbing, and telling “ghost tales,”about the supernatural
In England, Halloween traditions often involve dressing up in costumes, carving pumpkins, and going trick-or-treating, similar to the U.S. However, some English people still take part in older customs like apple bobbing, where people try to catch apples floating in water using only their mouths. England is also known for telling ghost stories and watching scary movies during Halloween night. England told supernatural tales, about scary legends, and myths.
Germany – Hide knives in the house to protect “dead spirits”
In Germany, Halloween has become more popular in recent years. People in Germany celebrate by throwing costume parties, carving pumpkins, and decorating their homes. One unique tradition is that many Germans hide their knives on Halloween night to protect the spirits of the dead from getting hurt. German kids also go door-to-door for candy, similar to trick-or-treating in other countries. As you can see there are so many different ways to celebrate halloween in different countries.
There’s so many different ways to showcase spookiness, and it’s amazing to explore the different traditions each country has.
