The Most Spookiest Time of the Year
Halloween is one of the most famous, celebrated and recognized holidays. As many know, Halloween is about dressing up, trick-or-treating, going to parties, and, most importantly, spending time with your family, doing spooky and fun activities. At least, that’s what Halloween is like in the United States of America.
That’s right. Many countries around the world have their own unique traditions that are similar to Halloween, just like how other countries celebrate holidays similar to Christmas. Let us take a look and see what holidays other countries celebrate.
1. Mexico – Day of the Dead
“Día de los Muertos”, otherwise known as “Day of the Dead”, is a time when families temporarily reunite with their deceased relatives and loved ones. It is a common belief that the border between the deceased and the living dissolves on the Day of the Dead, which provides time for families to spend time with loved ones; they can eat, drink, and dance together.
Families leave their offerings at the gravesite or on ofrendas to welcome the spirits of the dead home. Ofrendas are usually decorated with candles and marigolds.
2. Samhain – Ireland and Scotland
Samhain is a holiday that is similar to the Day of the Dead; it is a Gaelic festival that is held every sunset of October 31st, and it ends on the sunset of November 1st. It marks the end of the harvest season and the commencement of winter, which they associate with death. It is believed that the deceased and the living can interact with each other on Samhain.
There are many rituals associated with Samhain, including dancing, taking walks in nature, building altars to honor ancestors, and more. Apples, pumpkins, and other fall crops can be used for building altars. Skulls can be placed on altars to represent the spirits of the dead, as well as photos of deceased loved ones.
3. Japan – Halloween Street Parties
Halloween is celebrated in Japan. However, unlike the United States of America, Trick-or-Treating isn’t held in Japan. Since most of the fun is left to teenagers and adult citizens, they get to show off their creative skills by making and crafting their costumes. They can then show off their costumes at street parties, home gatherings, and parades. One of the most unexpected places of celebration is in trains; trains transform into a place to celebrate with special themes, such as zombies, vampires, and other spooky characters.
4. Guatemala – Festival de Barriletes Gigantes
Barriletes Gigantes is a festival that is held at the beginning of November; it is to honor All Saints Day and the Day of the Dead. People make homemade kites to fly them over the Santiago Sacatepéquez and Sumpango cemeteries. The kites are often made of paper, bamboo, and cloth patches; this represents the symbols of their ancestry and contemporary social situations. The 3000-year-old kite-flying practice tradition was often believed to be a method of communicating with the deceased.
What is your favorite out of all of these?
Sources cited
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Dia de los Muertos Background Information. (2021, January 13). Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Retrieved October 20, 2023, from https://www.desertmuseum.org/visit/noche2.php#:~:text=Throughout%20Mexico%2C%20altars%20called%20las,the%20souls%20of%20the%20dead.
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García, L. (2018, August 13). Detalles del Festival de Barriletes Gigantes de Santiago Sacatepéquez, 2017. Guatemala.com. https://www.guatemala.com/noticias/entretenimiento/detalles-del-festival-de-barriletes-gigantes-de-santiago-sacatepequez-2017.html
González, M. (2022, October 26). Halloween In Japan 2022: Charming Or Spooky? – Tokyoesque. Tokyoesque – Globally Aware & Curious. Retrieved October 20, 2023, from https://tokyoesque.com/halloween-in-japan-2022/#:~:text=Halloween%20in%20Japan%20is%20mainly,that%20Japanese%20people%20celebrate%20Halloween.
Granillo, G., & Novak, M. (2021, October 5). The Importance of Ofrendas on Día de los Muertos. https://www.pdxmonthly.com/style-and-shopping/2021/10/ofrendas-dia-de-los-muertos
Halloween Traditions from Around the World. (n.d.). GLOBO. Retrieved October 20, 2023, from https://www.helloglobo.com/blog/halloween-traditions-from-around-the-world
Morton, C. (2017, October 26). Tokyo’s Halloween Subway Parties from the ’90s Were Mysterious, Boozy, & Borderline Illegal. Conde Nast Traveler. https://www.cntraveler.com/story/tokyos-halloween-subway-parties-from-the-90s-were-mysterious-boozy-and-borderline-illegal