Halloween celebrations around the world

(Baonghean.vn) - Halloween is a traditional festival held on October 31 every year. Due to the development and cultural exchange, today Halloween has become popular and familiar in many countries around the world. However, in each country, Halloween has its own unique characteristics.

1. You

On Halloween in England, people light fires and make handmade lanterns from fruit shells. But instead of pumpkins, they use beetroot lanterns and call them punkies. Children will hold punkies in their hands and knock on doors to ask for money. In England, lanterns are lit with the belief that they light the way for wandering souls on Halloween night, not to scare away evil spirits. To scare away bad spirits, the English have the custom of throwing rocks, vegetables and nuts into the fire.

2. America

Halloween in the US is an occasion for people to have fun and participate in many traditional activities and games. On this day, every house in the US is decorated with many spooky and mysterious images: straw/cloth scarecrows next to bunches of dried corn, witches riding brooms, pumpkins carved into human faces, ghosts, bats, etc. Americans often wear many scary costumes, organize parties and have fun together all night. Children are very excited about dressing up and going from house to house to make trouble, have fun and ask for candy.

3. Germany

In Germany, in addition to pumpkin lanterns that every house has, the most popular activity is the Halloween festival. Germans celebrate this holiday with joy and excitement. They will wear traditional costumes of the devil's day, sing and dance all night around large bonfires. A very unique feature of Halloween in Germany is that people will hide knives in the house because they believe that this will make it easier for the spirits to return without being harmed.

4. France

Halloween was only celebrated on a large scale in France in 1990. The French also enjoy dressing up, partying, and trick-or-treating. Every year, a parade of ghouls and ghosts is held in the town of Limoges, and a big party is held in Paris to celebrate Halloween.

5. Spain

The Spanish celebrate Halloween quite simply. Like the Austrians, in Spain, people also go to cemeteries and clean the graves because they believe that the souls will return on this occasion. Therefore, they prepare the deceased’s favorite foods, sweets, fruits, drinks and even a towel for the souls to eat during the party.

6. Mexico

In Mexico, in addition to Halloween, there is another festival for the dead called “Dia de los Muertos” (Day of the Dead). “Dia de los Muertos” is held on the same day as Halloween, from October 31 to November 2 every year. In addition to enjoying the bustling atmosphere of one of the world’s largest masquerade festivals - Halloween, people and tourists in Mexico also know about a more interesting and unique festival for the dead.

7. Japan

Although Halloween is a holiday that originated in Europe, the Japanese people also celebrate this holiday with great enthusiasm. However, they do not celebrate Halloween in the European way, but instead, they celebrate a festival called Obon. This holiday is similar to Halloween in that it is also dedicated to the souls of the deceased. During this festival, food is carefully prepared, red lanterns are hung everywhere at night. Sometimes small lanterns are released into the river during Obon.

8. Ireland

Considered the land of Halloween, in Ireland people still light fires and gather families together as in the old days. On this day, people will eat “barnbrack” - a fruitcake - a traditional Irish dish. In it, people will wrap a straw or a small ring in cloth and put it in the cake. Whoever eats the cake with the ring is considered lucky, and the straw means a prosperous year.

9. South Korea

A festival similar to Halloween is celebrated in Korea called Chusok. It is a time when Koreans give thanks to their ancestors for their “good fortune”. They visit the graves of their loved ones, bringing rice and fruit to express their gratitude to the deceased.

10. China

On European Halloween, the Chinese also celebrate a similar festival called Cheng Chieh. On this day, people offer food and drinks to the portraits of their loved ones. They also light lanterns in the hope that they will guide the souls of the deceased back to their families. The Chinese also believe that wandering souls are dangerous, so people must offer food and sacrifices to help them return to the other world on Cheng Chieh.

11. Romania

Halloween in Romania is heavily influenced by Dracula and the stories surrounding the blood-sucking demon, especially in Transylvania, Romania, the place associated with Count Dracula.

12. Australia

The average temperature in Australia in October-November is around 30 degrees Celsius. So beaches are always the top choice for Halloween in Australia. And because of that, the Halloween colors here are also fun, less scary than other countries.

Peace

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