One of the oldest celebrated holidays, Halloween is a traditional festival which is observed by many countries around the world. Derived from ancient rites and rituals, people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghosts.
Even though Halloween is said to have its roots in Ireland, these days it has become a somewhat secular holiday and is celebrated with equal gusto in Canada, United States, Mexico and other Latin American countries.
Bonfires are lit, as in the old days of the Celts, with children wearing costumes and partaking in trick or treat games with pastries and sweets as prizes.
Wondering where to travel for Halloween this year? Check out how the following cultures and countries celebrate. Or, if you’re staying at home, why not use these fun facts for your Halloween trivia questions!
Halloween Trivia: How Halloween is Celebrated Around the World
Halloween in Ireland …
If you’ve ever wondered who invented Halloween, it was the Irish. Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the region today known as Ireland, celebrated their new year on November 1.
In terms of celebrating Halloween in Ireland today, the Irish are known to indulge in a card game, where money and candy are covered with cards face down. The card then chosen by a person, gets what is found below it.
A traditional food, known as barmbrack (which is kind of like a fruit cake) is made available in the stores. Buried inside is a secret treat that is said to predict your future; for example, a ring would mean marriage, while a bit of straw foretells a prosperous time in the coming months.
Halloween in Latin America, Mexico and Spain
In Latin America, Mexico, and Spain, Halloween celebrations begin early on the evening of October 31st. The day marks the return of the dead back to their homes on earth, and is a dark night of terror and mischief.
Following Halloween is two days of festivities which ends on November 2, called Day of the Dead. In an explosion of color and life-affirming joy, families gather at the respective graveyards to picnic and party.
This is a joyous holiday famous for amazing skeletal makeup, which is an opportunity to demonstrate love and respect for deceased family members. It is a ritual and tradition which originated several thousand years ago with the Aztec, Toltec, and other Nahua people, who considered mourning the dead disrespectful.
In North America …
Halloween enjoys the maximum popularity in Canada and North America, exceeded only by Christmas. It is said that the most amount of candy is sold here during the festival period.
Jack O’Lanterns are created and homes are adorned with pumpkins and stalks of corn. Wearing sexy costumes is part of the fun and 3wishes.com offers a great variety to choose from.
Halloween Trivia: Approximately 600 million pounds of candy are sold in the U.S. each year for Halloween, with 90 million pounds of that being chocolate sold just during the week immediately preceding Halloween. Americans spend $1.9 billion on Halloween candy each year.
Halloween in China …
Halloween is celebrated in China as Teng Chieh, where water and food are offered in front of photos of departed family members.
Lanterns are lit to make light for them to make it easy for them to travel back on the Halloween night. Buddhists make paper boats and burn them to enable the spirits of their loved ones to reach heaven. Sacred verses are sung by the monks and offerings of fruit are made.
Halloween in Europe
While France does not celebrate Halloween as it is regarded just as an American holiday, neighbouring Germany traditionally puts away all knives on Halloween night. This is done to ensure that the the returning spirits are in no way harmed (there’s a Halloween trivia question for you!).
In Austria and Belgium people leave behind food, water and a lamp which is lit to welcome the dead souls back with their favourite dish.
The oldest holiday in the world, dating back to the pagan era, is celebrated with fervor and fanfare in several countries of the world. After all people find the process of death and life after it quite intriguing and fascinating.
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Photo credits: Dia de los Muertos by Larry Lamsa. In which country did Halloween originate?
16 Comments
Celtic and Pagan holidays are celebrated in Scotland and parts of England too. The Irish have, I believe, laid claim to Halloween much due to the party spirit of Dublin – where it’s a very special time of year. That said, my mum (Celtic English married to a Celtic Scottish man) always said Halloween was an American invention!
It’s a fascinating celebration though isn’t it?
This is so cool. I love learning how other cultures celebrate what I tend to think are just popular US celebrations. I had no Idea that Halloween was created in Ireland. Also I would love to see in person the celebration in China with the gifts.
How fascinating. I’d never really stopped to consider where it came from before. I’d love to visit Mexico for the day of the dead, I was there a few years back, just afterwards but so we saw a load of the huge effigies celebrating the occasion
Another really interesting place to experience Halloween is Japan! We were there over Halloween on our second trip a few years ago and were amazed that it’s (recently) become quite a thing. We saw youngsters (by which I mean young adults, not kids) dressed up in costumes not only on the day itself but for the days preceding as well, it was definitely an excuse for some cos play! On top of that, lots of stores had pumpkin themed decor from small to large, and the food places all did seasonal items such as Halloween pumpkin doughnuts!
Could you ever imagine your family gathering in a graveyard to picnic and party? Perhaps its just me, but I don’t think Aussies would get into that? Snags,VB and an Akubra at the graveyard. Hmmm?!
Although the explosions of colour and life affirming joy sounds a wonderful way to celebrate those that have passed!
I loved reading this! So fun to see how holidays are enjoyed around the world. I’m from the U.S. so I know the super sext costume scene all to well, especially in college, Lordy! haha. I love that in Germany they put their knives away. That’s so crazy. I’ve heard Scotland has an interesting set of traditions for it as well – more spirit oriented.
I feel like the way we celebrate Halloween in the United States has evolved a lot even from when I was a child. Much more emphasis now on costumes and candy and haunted houses. It’s not my favorite holiday but it sure is interesting to see how others celebrate it around the world.
Delightful, informative post. Ireland seems to be a place I would love to visit during the Halloween.
Though I knew it, but seeing the candy statistics of US in writing – SHOCKING!
And, I grew up in Northern Germany but am not familiar with the tradition of putting knives away. That must be from a certain region as regions have often their own language and traditions.
Enjoyed your interesting post. #Ultimateblogchallenge
This article spoke to the travel-spirit in me. Experiencing Halloween in Mexico is definitely on my bucket list. I really enjoyed finding out about the rather spiritual approach towards Halloween in Asia.
I am from Germany. Here Halloween is scary scary scary as people wander the streets dressed up as witches, ghots, zombies -you name it! Kids usually go from door to door asking for candy, while others party the night away or experience a night of horror….
Halloween in the US is different seems to be different coast to coast. I grew up on the East coast and it seemed that Halloween was a kids holiday. Trick or treating was the big emphasis. Moving to the West coast, it seems to shift to an adult holiday with themed parties and haunted houses! Just an observation :-)
Hmm. Interesting facts. But, unlike what I’ve done on New Year’s Eve (traveled across the US, celebrating in each of the time zones, ending up in Long Beach for the longest celebration), I won’t bother traveling to see Halloween.
So interesting! I’ve never actually known where Halloween came from, although I have been interested in attending some of the various festivities around the world (Day of the Dead celebrations look absolutely fascinating!!). It’s so cool to read about how various regions celebrate this holiday! It goes to show that some of them are just as superstitious as we are :)
I really want to be in Latin American of the day of the dead celebrations. They have so much color and it’s interesting how they go to cemeteries and decorate. I love the sugar skulls as well.
Thanks for sharing this amazing idea. I read it its so interesting. I’m sharing you my Halloween days. I’m from NY. I love to purchase new costumes for new trendy Halloween. Celebrate the holiday with friends or family Go trick or treating. Decorate my homes with Halloween pumpkins. Make Halloween dishes.
That is an interesting post with so many interesting facts. I never knew how Halloween started and it is celebrated so differently in different countries and regions. Anyways, I would love to dress up in the amazing costume and experience this festivity myself. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful ideas. It is really interesting. After completing days of Halloween, I am reading this blog. It’s my bad luck. Next year, I will celebrate halloween this type as I am fan of dress up with halloween costumes.