By: Jade Bastian, Worldly Editor
Halloween celebrated on Oct. 31, is one of the world’s oldest holidays. In America, it is traditional to have costume parties, haunted houses, decorations, jack-o’lanterns, and trick-or-treating. The holiday is also a perfect time to light bonfires and tell scary stories, prepare seasonal foods and drinks, prank family and friends, and watch horror films often from the past and sometimes the present.
While this holiday is typically celebrated throughout the entire month of October with festivities, there are countries that have different traditions due to their culture.
China
The locals celebrate a festival known as Teng Chieh or The Festival of the Hungry Ghosts, where families put food and water in front of photographs of their deceased loved one(s). Additionally, locals light lanterns as a pathway for the spirits wandering the earth during Halloween.
Lanterns are lit as a pathway for the souls of the dearly departed. (Credit: @IFNetUK)
Latin America|Mexico|Spain
In these regions, their popular celebration is known as “El Día de Los Muertos” (The Day of the Dead). It is a three-day celebration that begins on Oct. 31 and concludes n Nov. 2. There is a widespread belief that spirits visit their families during this time and depart on Nov. 2, which is also referred to as All Souls’ Day.
Locals build private altars, called “ofrendas,” that are constructed to honor deceased relatives. They are decorated with candy, flowers, photographs, and other items that were associated with their loved one (s). Also, according to kiwonhong.blogspot.com, candles and incense are burned to help the deceased find their way home.
On Nov. 2, relatives gather at the gravesite of their deceased loved one to picnic and reminisce. Relatives typically tidy up and adorn the graves, and some of their gatherings may include tequila and mariachi bands.
Moreover, according to pumpkinpatchesandmore.org, parades are held in villages where people dress as skeletons and dance in the street.
Altars are built to honor deceased loved ones.
(Photo: Creative Commons “Alters & Incense: Día de los Muertos 2012” by Samantha Shada is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 )
England
According to history.com, their celebration has little to do with Halloween and more so with a new autumn ritual that emerged, and is referred to as Guy Fawkes Day. Moreover, the Guy Fawkes Day festivities are designed to commemorate the execution of a notorious English traitor Guy Fawkes who was convicted of attempting to blow up England’s parliament building.
On Nov. 5, bonfires are lit throughout England, effigies are burned, and fireworks are set off. Also, their version of trick-or-treating involves children walking through the streets carrying an effigy or “guy” and asking for “a penny for the guy.”
Bonfires are lit throughout England on Nov. 5.
(Credit: Creative Commons “IMG_3874” by gardooney is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Italy
According to italiarail.com, there are tours of creepy catacombs lined with mummies and bones in Rome, and in Bologna, you can visit medieval castles and towers during special evening tours.
Additionally, All Saints’ Day, which falls on Nov.1, is Italy’s important religious holiday. On this day, families tidy up and adorn the graves of their deceased loved one(s) with candles and beautiful flowers like chrysanthemums, which are traditional to them and are associated with mourning. Furthermore, families typically light and place a red candle in their windowsills at sunset and set the table for their departed loved ones.
Chrysanthemums are traditional to Italians as they are associated with mourning.
(Credit: Creative Commons “More Yellow Chrysanthemums” by Carey 1964 is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Philippines
The Halloween festivities begin on Oct. 31 and usually continue on Nov.1 and Nov. 2. During these days, families visit and spend the day at the graves of their loved ones, which is considered as a faithful tradition amongst locals. Likewise, there is another tradition, referred to as atang, in which families place the favorite meals of their loved one either on their grave or in front of their pictures at home.
Moreover, according to nextshark.com, Pangangaluluwa is the Philippines’ version of trick-or-treating where people go door to door and sing for the souls of the dead in exchange for small cash or alms.
In the Phillippine culture, families visit and spend the day at the graves of their loved ones.
(Credit: @PhilippinesUSA)
All in all, there are other countries that share similar Halloween traditions as America, some that solely commemorate the souls of the dead, and there are some that have not accepted it as a part of their culture.
