Halloween is one of the most celebrated holidays in the world. However, cultures all over the globe differ greatly from each other when it comes to honoring this event and everything it stands for. While the most well-known interpretation of this holiday is celebrated in the United States, Halloween has variations around the world, and many countries have their own traditions or similar holidays.
Mexico
In Mexico, el Día de Los Muertos, or “Day of the Dead”, is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. This time is used to honor those who have passed away. People dress up as their ancestors and decorate altars, also known as ofrendas. A typical ofrenda is simply decorated with items that identify the deceased person and staple foods like pan de muerto, a sugary treat enhanced by bone and skull shapes. Day of the Dead is a day to celebrate and remember. Rather than dressing up in costumes and asking for candy, people take time to reminisce on memories made with loved ones and enjoy spending time being as close to them as possible. In Mexico, many believe that the Day of the Dead is the one time of year where the deceased can visit the material world, so it is considered a very special and important part of their culture.
China
In China, the Hungry Ghost Festival is a monthlong celebration, beginning on the seventh day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar. These festivities involve parades, operas, burning incense, food for the dead, and performances to appease the spirits.
South Korea
Chuseok, celebrated in South Korea on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, is a day in which South Koreans journey back to their hometowns and enjoy a traditional feast to commemorate their ancestors.
Haiti
In Haiti, Fed Gede, or "The Festival of the Sacred Dead'' is recognized as a Voodoo holiday and is celebrated in many other Voodoo societies. Taking place throughout the entire month of November, it occurs simultaneously with the Mexican Day of the Dead. People participate in the holiday by lighting candles, visiting their relative’s burial places, and drinking rum pervaded with chilies.
Origin of Halloween
Halloween itself originates all the way back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. The Celts, people who lived 2,000 years ago, in what is now modern day Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, held their new year on November 1st. This date indicates the end of summer and the beginning of a dreaded winter, often affiliated with human death. It was believed that this time of year, the day before the new year, was when the line between the world of the living and the dead was most weak. October 31st, the day the Celts celebrated Samhain, was supposedly the night the ghosts of the dead returned to the material world; people lit bonfires and wore costumes in attempts to ward them off. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III named November 1st as a time to honor all saints. This new holiday however, still shared similarities with Samhain and continued to do so as it morphed into the day we celebrate now.
Interestingly enough, the Halloween we’ve all grown to love wasn’t celebrated in the United States until around the nineteenth century. As many immigrants made their way to the Americas, they brought traditions and customs that would stick with the growing nation for generations to come.