Halloween across the World
Happy Halloween travelers! Halloween is considered to originated in Ireland from the Celts. It originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. You might not know but Halloween is celebrated in many countries across the world. Here are how other countries celebrate across the world…
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Austria
In Austria, people will leave bread, water and a lighted lamp on the table before bed on Halloween night. It was once believed that these would welcome the dead souls back to earth on a night that Austrians considered to be magical.
Belgium
See a black cat walk across your path? The Belgians believe that it is unlucky for a black cat to cross one’s path and also unlucky if it should enter a home or travel on a ship. The custom in Belgium on Halloween night is to light candles in memory of dead relatives.
Canada
Modern Halloween celebrations in Canada began with the arrival of Scottish and Irish immigrants in the 1800s. Jack O’Lanterns are carved and the festivities include trick-or-treating and the decorating of homes with pumpkins and corn stalks.
China
In China, food and water are placed in front of photographs of family members who have died, bonfires and lanterns are lit in order to light the paths of the spirits as they travel the earth on Halloween night. Worshippers in Buddhist temples fashion “boats of the law” from paper, some of which are very large, which are then burned in the evening hours. The reason for this is a remembrance of the dead and in order to free the spirits of those who died as a result of an accident or drowning and whose bodies were never buried. Monks are invited to recite sacred verses and offerings of fruit are presented.
England
While the Irish and Scots preferred turnips, English children made “punkies” out of large beets (which they call beetroots), upon which they carved a design of their choice. Then, they would carry their “punkies” through the streets while singing the “Punkie Night Song” as they knocked on doors and asked for money. Halloween became Guy Fawkes Night and moved a few days later
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