8 Spooky Traditions that You’ve Never Heard of
With Halloween soon upon us, it’s time to look at some of the weird and wonderful ways people around the world celebrate.
Perhaps you know about some Halloween traditions overseas already but we guarantee you don’t know them all!
From Día de los Muertos in Mexico to the Halloween trains in Japan, here are 8 spooky Halloween traditions that may inspire your own celebrations this Halloween.
Where Does Halloween Originate?
Before we dive into some spooktacular traditions, you may be wondering where Halloween originates from to begin with. Halloween dates back 2,000 years to the ancient pagan festival of Samhain, which was marked on November 1st.
Celtic people held strong beliefs that Samhain was the day in which the barrier between our world and the spirit world was blurred. This meant that during Samhain, people could connect with beloved passed family members as their spirits entered our realm.
Traditions from Samhain included bonfires, costumes, and story-telling, much of which remains today with modern Halloween.
Now, it’s time to explore how Halloween is celebrated in different parts of the world!
1. Mexico: Día de los Muertos
Día de los Muertos, translated to ‘Day of the Dead’, takes place on the 1st and 2nd November and focuses on the celebration of life and its natural cycle. It’s an important day that honours the memory of loved lost ones.
Unlike funeral ceremonies in the Western world, Día de los Muertos, emphasises wearing bright colours through costume and makeup, throwing energised parades, and dancing.
Temporary altars are built during the celebration where offerings are provided to the spirit world. Sugar skulls, tequila, and marigolds are just some of the gifts that are placed along with photographs.
2. Philippines: Pangangaluluwa
Pangangaluluwa, or ‘souling’ is a custom that is sadly disappearing, but one that dates back to the 1900s. In the Philippines, the tradition of Pangangaluluwa takes place mainly in rural areas.
Both adults and children dress up and travel door to door as lost souls. They sing as they wander and ask for small gifts including money and rice.
3. Japan: Halloween Trains
Halloween was first celebrated in Tokyo at Disneyland in 2000 and now it has grown in popularity with many people celebrating it country wide.
The Japanese enjoy partaking in cosplay, dressing up as characters from anime shows. They also transform their speedy trains into Halloween characters for the public to enjoy on their daily commutes and journeys across cities.
4. China: Hungry Ghost Festival
The Hungry Ghost Festival is a Taoist and Buddhist holiday celebrated throughout the entire 7th lunar month. Families mark the occasion by offering food including big meals and fruits to wandering souls that may be in the area.
During the Hungry Ghost Festival, it’s advisable to avoid deep natural water, staying out late, and any major life events such as moving home or getting married. People also light and float lanterns then place them on rivers to guide lost spirits.
5. Germany: Walpurgis Night
While Walpurgis Night doesn’t take place in October, it bears many similarities to the Halloween we know.
The European festival celebrated across Germany takes place on 30th April and marks the arrival of Spring. There are many folklores that are related to Spring’s eve including wild witches flying to Brocken mountain to meet the devil.
Over time, people began to light huge bonfires to scare evil, straying spirits away and still do to this day. However, the festival which is also celebrated across Finland, Sweden and Czech Republic too is a much more light-hearted affair today.
Locals dress up, swing, dance, and watch fireworks for Walpurgis Night.
6. Romania: Dracula-Themed Festivites
It comes as no surprise that Halloween is marked by various Dracula-themed festivities in Romania.
As the alleged birth place of the famous vampire, people across the country come together to celebrate the occasion with events held at the huge Dracula-themed theme park, Dracula Land, and within their own communities and homes.
Young locals dress up in costume and attend local parties and to go all out, many tourists travel to Romania for Halloween to specifically visit Bran Castle, where large Halloween parties are held throughout the month of October.
7. Ireland and Scotland: Samhain
The ancient Gaelic festival of Samhain is still celebrated today, particularly in Ireland and Scotland from sunset on 31st October through to 1st November. Marking the end of the light part of the year, Samhain welcomes the darker part.
Today, divination games are played in Scotland and the Samhuinn Fire Festivals take place with people dressing in Celtic inspired costumes.
In Ireland, light shows, costumes and traditional feasting are all expected throughout the Samhain event.
8. Cambodia: Pchum Ben
The 15-day-long festival of Pchum Ben is a wonderful festival that is dedicated to honouring relatives that are deceased.
Traditions include bringing delicious food and other offerings to the monks, scattering balls of sticky rice on temple floors for any wandering spirits, and wearing traditional clothing to feast together.
Why Not Create Your Own Halloween Tradition?
If you’re feeling inspired by these Halloween traditions from around the world, why not create your own?
It could be as simple as baking a Halloween-themed cake to mapping out a walk and seeking things associated with Halloween along the way.
Halloween in the UK
Halloween is a much-loved event in the UK with most people celebrating the day across the country. From carving pumpkins at home to children trick-or-treating, there is plenty to look forward to.
Of course, Halloween isn’t complete without plenty of sweets to share!
Whether you’re looking for sweets to create Halloween party bags or you’re stocking up for sweets to go with a spooky film, we’ve got just the selection.
The Halloween sweets at Sweets Direct span just about every sweet variety you can think of. From fizzy favourites to sour surprises, you’ll find all the treats to help make your Halloween extra special.