What is Halloween mean? This question is mostly arising in some people’s mind which looks much amusing because it is one of the most popular festivals celebrated around the world and there is no person who is not familiar with the Halloween traditions in the world. But How Halloween started, the real history of Halloween, where did Halloween come from, origin of Halloween and its facts are not generally known by all the people. So for this reason today we are going to discuss all about the Halloween festival and traditions, its history, facts, country of origin and everything about this great festival is given in the article.
What is Halloween?
Halloween is widely celebrated festival on the 31st October of every year, Halloween originally means hallowed evening. It is derived from the “All Hallows’ Eve”. It is typically celebrated by the children who are dressed into the costume as well as solicit candy.
The Real History of Halloween Festival
This festival came into existence with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain on that times, people has the tradition to wear the Halloween costumes for the defense from ghosts. During the 8th century, Pope Gregory III dedicated the first November to all the saints and martyrs and honors them on this day. And this day was given the name All Saints’ Day having some Samhain traditions. The evening before was known as the All Hallows’ Eve which later on turned into Halloween. This festival has got the much popularity around the world. Currently Halloween is celebrated in varied number of countries in the world.
What Countries Celebrate Halloween around the World?
Being one of the oldest holiday festivals, Halloween is widely celebrated festival but United States and Canada are most popular for the best celebration of this great festival around the world. According to an estimate 65% American decorates their offices, homes as well as their buildings before starting this festival. On this festival the candy is sold the most. Different countries have much dissimilarity in their Halloween traditions and customs, following is a list of most popular countries that celebrate Halloween around the world with their own tradition and cultures.
1. Austria
Before the end of Halloween night some Austrian people leave the bread, water and a lightened lamp on the table believing that such items would welcome the souls back on the earth on this night. And it will increase their cosmic energies.
2. Canada
Canada has the most popular Halloween traditions and festivities. The Modern trends and celebrations began in the 1800s.Here this festival is celebrated by decorating the homes with pumpkins and corn stalks and different parties are held by the Canadian people to enjoy this event.
3. Belgium
There are numerous traditions in the Belgium from which one is the black cat custom. People believed that if a black cat cross someone’s path it is unlucky. Furthermore its entrance in the homes or traveling ship is also considered unlucky for people. People living in Belgium celebrate the Halloween night with lighting the candles in the memory of dead relatives.
4. China
China is the most populated country in the world with diverse number of historical traditions and customs. This festival is also celebrated in China but Chinese people know it as Teng Chieh. Chinese people celebrate Halloween by placing the water and food in front of photographs of their dead friends and family members. They believe that the holly spirits travel on the earth on the Halloween night. China is considered one of the most religious countries around the globe. Here the Buddhist worshipers go to the temples and fashion “boats of the law” with paper, and some of these are extremely large in their size. Later on when the evening comes, these are burned into the evening. This custom is sustained in China in the remembrance of dead people.
5. Czechoslovakia
This great festival is also celebrated by the people living in Czechoslovakia and they place the chairs by the fireside on the Halloween nights. From which the one chair is placed for the each living family member while one chair is placed for the spirit of the family member.
6. England
England has diverse number of Halloween customs and traditions having poles apart types of reasons. One time the English children arrange the punkies out of the large beetroots and made a beautiful design of their choice. Afterward carry these punkies and went through the streets singing the “Punkies Night Song” and knocked the doors for asking money. In some rural areas people placed the lanterns on their gates to protect their homes from the ghosts in the Halloween night. One more custom in the England is to throw the stones, vegetables or nuts into the bonfire from which the spirits are scared. And these were also known as the fortune-telling tools. People believe that if a pebble is thrown into the flames at night but the pebble was no longer observable in the morning, then it is believed that the person who had thrown that pebble would not live till the next year.
7. France
Unlike the most countries of the world, French people are not celebrating the this festival in order to honor the dead and martyred people. In France it is known as an American holiday which was virtually unknown until the 1996.
8. Germany
German people also celebrate Halloween like other countries , on the Halloween night people put away their knives and the reason behind this custom is because they don’t want to harm the returning spirits on the Halloween nights.
9. Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, this festival is known as “Yue Lan” which means the festival of the Hungary ghosts. On this day it is believed that the ghosts and spirits roam around the globe for 24 hours. Another custom is to burn the fruit and money pictures with a believe that these images would reach the spirit’s world and bring the reassure for the ghosts.
10. Ireland
Ireland is also full of Halloween customs and traditions because it is known as the birthplace of Halloween so this tradition is also celebrated here same like the United States. Most people celebrate the parties with their friends and family and a lot of games are played in these parties. And one of these games is “Snap-Apple”. In this game an apple is tied on a string to a door or tree and the players of this game try to take a bite out of the suspended apple. Many more customs are here which are celebrated by the Irish people.
11. Japan
Japan has also many customs and traditions of several historical festivals. The Japanese people celebrate the “Obon Festival” which is also known as “Matsuri” this festival is same like the Halloween festival celebrated around the world. It is dedicated to the spirits of their ancestors. On this festival diverse number of special foods are prepared and the bright red lanterns are hanged everywhere. And it is one of the most popular festivals in the Japanese year. This festival is celebrated during the July and August.
12. Korea
In Korea the Chusok festival is celebrated which is same like the Halloween festival. It is celebrated in the remembrance of their ancestors for thanking them for their labor fruits. On this festival, People go to their ancestor’s tombs and offered the rice and fruits to their souls. This festival is celebrated in August.
13. Spain, Mexico and Latin America
In the Spanish-speaking countries the this festival is known as the “El Dia de los Muertos” it is considered one of the happiest holidays because it is the time to remember the dead friends and families. It is celebrated for three days which begins on 31st October and remains till 2nd November. On this festival, people decorate their homes with candy, photographs, fresh water and beautiful flowers.
14. Sweden
Halloween is known as “Alla Helgons Dag” in Sweden. Swedish people celebrate this event from 31st October to November 6. Here people celebrate this festival with more passion. So Sweden can be said the country having the long duration celebrations of this great festival.
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