Halloween is a time-honored tradition and has been celebrated all over the world for centuries. However, the Halloween you see on TV is a very US-centric version, with trick-and-treaters, and fun costumes. While this is all well and good, this fall event actually has some really deep significance in many cultures. It marks a time of death and decay, and some cultures hold deep meanings behind this.
It marks the advent of fall, which leads to winter. This is considered an arcane time and a reminder of death and dormancy till the resurrection and rebirth period of spring. Therefore, there are some really unique Halloween traditions all over the world. Most of these are known by other names, and have religious backgrounds. Furthermore, they may not be celebrated exactly on Halloween, but somewhere around the same time. Here are a few of these truly unique traditions from all over the world.
1. Ognissanti: Italy
This is celebrated in Italy and is considered as the day of a Catholic feast. It is celebrated on the 1st of November, followed by All Souls’ Day the next day. It is also known as All Saints’ Day, and families commonly go to pay their respects in church to their departed relatives. It is considered a family day, and is even a government holiday.
2. Dia De Muertos: Mexico
This festival is one of the biggest ones in Mexico. It is known as the Day of the Dead and is extremely festive. Families decorate their homes, visit graveyards, and hold parades. All of Mexico and other Latin American countries celebrate this festival with much fervor. They honor their dead ancestors and pay homage to their spirits.
3. Samhain: Scotland & Ireland
This festival has its roots in Gaelic culture. It marks the winter solstice and was commemorated very religiously in pre-monotheistic times. People have bonfires, hold spiritual rituals, and have feasts. This Celtic festival is still celebrated in some areas.
4. Kurbisfest im Retzer Land: Austria
This Austrian festival is held in Retzer Land. It is basically a Pumpkin Festival. While pumpkins are a common décor item in American Halloween, this festival takes things to a whole other level. You’ll see pumpkins everywhere and can carve your own as well.
5. Dusicky: Czech Republic
Dusicky is the Czech version of All Souls’ Day. Like in many other cultures, people commemorate their dead and visit graveyards to pay their respects. It is a much quieter holiday than Halloween but is quite serene in its spirit.
6. Apokries: Greece
In ancient times, Apokries was a day of revelry and recklessness in honor of Dionysus. People would get drunk, act licentiously, and be extremely festive to celebrate the god of wine and revelry. Instead of in autumn, it is celebrated in spring. It celebrates the nature of rebirth and fertility. It is still celebrated, but with less of a Dionysian aspect.
7. Fet Gede: Haiti
Haiti truly embodies the spirit of Halloween. Fet Gede is its fall festival which honors the season with voodoo and other traditional practices. It is a national holiday in the country and is celebrated quite widely. It preserves African traditions and ancient practices and is quite a sight to behold.
Basically, Halloween is not just a holiday. It is a rich spiritual tradition in many countries. It commemorates the death, rebirth, and other such concepts.
