Halloween Around The World
The spookiest holiday of the year is celebrated on October 31. Trick-Or-Treat, scary movies, and haunted houses are common traditions to celebrate Halloween in the United States. But how do other countries celebrate Halloween or similar holidays?
Germany: Halloween & St. Martin’s Day
Surprisingly, Germany did not start celebrating Halloween until 1991. Halloween was introduced to Germany during the Second Gulf War to save the costume industry. However, it’s not as widely celebrated, or welcomed, as it is in the U.S. Only the younger generation participates in the festivities of trick-or-treating and not many houses give out candy. Dressing up is not as popular and if someone does, their costume must be scary. The holiday clashes with St. Martin’s Day on November 11th where children will walk with grown-ups carrying lanterns to honor the saint. After the procession, children go door-to-door, singing for candy and cookies.
China: Hungry Ghost Month
Lanterns on the river during Hungry Ghost Month in China.
It’s said that the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar is the scariest one of the year. During Hungry Ghost month, it is believed that ghosts of Chinese ancestors are let out of hell. On the first day of the month, fake money is burned for the ghosts to use throughout their time back on earth. Food is also offered as a sacrifice and many ceremonies and festivals are held throughout the month. On the last day of the month, the gates of hell close and the ghosts return. Many people will burn money and clothes for the ghosts to use in hell and families will light river lanterns with their ancestors’ names written on them.
Mexico: Dia de los Muertos
On November 2, Dia de los Muertos is celebrated throughout Central and Latin America. The roots of this holiday dates back 3,000 years in Mexico, celebrated by the Aztecs. It’s believed that the line between the spiritual and living world is dissolved, and the dead come to be with their loved ones. Mexicans will decorate with papel picado, colored paper with an image associated with Dia de los Muertos. Sugar skulls are essential and often decorated with icing. Families will build ofrendas (Spanish word for offering and it is a display or collection of objects and food) for gravesites or their home to welcome the dead. Ofrendas will often have their loved one’s favorite foods and popularly, sweet bread of the dead. Tamales and soups are often eaten at gravesites or to keep warm while at parades or other festivities.
Thank you to International Program Intern Angela Heaney for researching and writing this article.