Although having originated by the folks of Ireland, France, and the UK, Halloween’s celebrations aren’t limited just there. People from every part of the globe wait for October to come so they could cherish the company of their loved ones. Party animals love this day like anything and start their costume hunt months before the actual day. Dressing up as a favorite screenplay character has become so common now that if you take a trip to every Halloween party, you will found one person in a Southside Serpents Jacket. Well, let’s take a look at the customs and rituals that people follow in different chunks of the globe!
Día de Los Muertos Festivities In Mexico
From the night of October 31 till November 2, people of Mexicans, Spanish, Latin Americans celebrate the merriments of Día de Los Muertos, commonly known as ‘The Day of the Dead.’ Some even call it as ‘All Souls’ Day.’ It is a day off in Mexico when people invite their closed ones to pay praises and think of the departed souls. It is a common perception among the public that the spirits come back to this physical world by traveling from the spiritual world.
So, acquaintances of the passed on have to build an altar to pay them their tributes and embellish it with their belongings, candies, and water. Candles are also scorched to demonstrate the deceased their way to the home. The burial places are scrubbed and repaired if it’s required so that on November 2, the closed ones of the dead can easily festive at the location. The departed also joins them, so the menu is usually kept according to their favorite food and dishes. A shot of tequila is a must too!
Samhain Festivities in Ireland
The place where Halloween has originated celebrates this day as same as before. Just the way Celts used to light bonfires centuries before, it is still done in the same way today. Children wear spooky costumes and go out for trick-or-treating all around their neighborhood. In the night, people host or attend parties with their loved ones and enjoy different games and activities. The menu stays traditional, a common fruitcake among everyone for breakfast, Barmbrack is a ‘Special Halloween Dessert.’
Some people spice up the things and add a ring and a straw in their cakes, which are supposed to tell the eater’s future. Many classical games are still popular, too, like ‘apple bobbing’ and ‘treasure hunts.’ Nowadays, the Irish enjoy a new game with cards where candies and coins are kept underneath the cards, and whoever selects a card wins whatever is present there. ‘Knock-a-Dolly’ is also enjoyed by children where they ring their neighbor’s doors and disappear before someone opens the door. Saying that Halloween’s traditions have evolved quite a lot among these ‘originators’ won’t be wrong!
All Saints Day in Germany
Germany rejoices All Saints’ Day for an entire week starting from Halloween, October 31 till November 8. People avoid party celebrations mostly and spend their time in churches to pay honor to dead saints and relatives. Many folks who believe in the ancient rituals hide the knives on this day to keep the souls that visit earth protected. While many of them still attend festivals organized in many parts of the country. Retzer Land’s Pumpkin Festival is so far the biggest one. Others visit the castle of Burg Frankenstein to feel the real horrors of the story of Frankenstein.
Obon in Japan
Obon is a Buddhist festival in Japan, like Halloween, but the date may vary between July and August. The festival is meant to remember the souls of ancestors with many ceremonial dances. People prepare special dishes and light up lanterns, which are then left to float on the seas. A big bonfire is also light up each night to enlighten the deceased souls’ pathway to their native lands.
Although Halloween is a holiday in Japan, it’s somehow adopted by the youth now. Japanese are already famous for organizing amazing co-plays, so styling up for Halloweens in a spooky costume isn’t hard for them.
Teng Chieh in China
China’s take on Halloween, ‘Teng Chieh,’ is when people make boats from temples and lit them as lanterns countrywide. For the same reason, this is done to show the way clearly to the souls that are coming back to homes. People also visit their loved ones’ graves to pay the honors and leave them with their favorite dishes and water. Some Chinese also rejoice ‘The Hungry Ghost Festival’ from August 15 to September 15, where parades and operas exist to entertain the deceased spirits.
By summarizing the festivities from all over the world, we can say that Halloween is a day where people enjoy themselves. They cherish the time they are having at the moment with their friends and families. While it’s a day of a lot of fun, many economical Halloween Jacket Deals also come to the limelight to let everyone relish this day to their fullest!
