Halloween has many origins, some religious and others secular, but it’s one of those holidays that is celebrated with unique Halloween traditions.
Some believe Halloween to have its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which was celebrated in Scotland and Ireland. In the Catholic church, it’s known as All Hallows Eve, which is the day before All Saints’ Day. Despite the origin story, this holiday is often celebrated with costumes, fun, folly, and trickery. It’s actually one of the oldest holidays celebrated around the world.
Here are some bizarre Halloween traditions from around the world.
Scotland – Celebrating the Celtic New Year
Although most countries use the Julian calendar to keep track of dates, the Celtic New Year ends on October 31 and begins on November 1. This means Halloween is a different celebration in Scotland than in most other areas of the world. The roots of this holiday date back more than 3,000 years, with the pagan Celts celebrating Samhain, which marked the transition to the new year and the warding off of ghostly spirits with many ancient Celtic rituals.
Mexico – El Dia de Los Muertos
It might seem like one of the most bizarre Halloween traditions, but in Mexico, this holiday is an extremely important day and one that honors deceased and departed family members. Mexicans actually celebrate the “Day of the Dead” over the course of three days, beginning on October 31 and ending on November 2. The first day honors deceased children, known as angelitos or little angels, and the next day is for departed souls. Families build altars to commemorate the dead and decorate the alters with toys, sweets, and meaningful items for the deceased.
China – Teng Chieh
In China, the date for Halloween might not coincide with the last day of October, but it is held on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month. This day is called Teng Chieh, which means the Hungry Ghost Festival. During the festival, locals leave food and water next to photos of deceased relatives. They then light floating lanterns to give wandering spirits a guiding light to find their way. In some areas, they also burn items, including money, cars, and houses, to appease the dead, which might seem a little extreme in some cultures.
Japan – Halloween with a Twist
Japan might not have a bizarre Halloween tradition, but they have adopted the American version of the holiday and put their own twist on it. In America, it’s more about trick-or-treating for kids, but in Japan, this holiday is about the elaborate costumes and street parties with a strong influence of the Japanese cosplay culture. Many people will dress in their favorite anime or manga characters instead of traditional Halloween monsters.
South Korea – Chuseok
Many cultures believe in the influence of their ancestors, and in South Korea, they celebrate this with a festival known as Chuseok. This festival is a time to thank ancestors for the year’s harvest. The dates don’t line up with Halloween, but the celebration has its roots in ancestors and those who have gone before. In some areas of South Korea, Halloween is celebrated much the same way it’s held in America, with trick-or-treating at schools and in some neighborhoods, but the celebration of Chuseok is unique to South Korea.
Nepal – Gai Jatra
A holiday that’s similar to Halloween called Gai Jatra is held in Nepal. This is the Cow Festival, and it happens in the summer to honor those who have passed away during the past year. During this festival, children dress as cows and march in procession to represent the cows that guide the spirits of the dead. This Is one of the most bizarre Halloween traditions in the world, even though it’s not held at the same time as Halloween. The celebration features food, music, comedy, face painting, and elaborate costumes.
Italy – Halloween and All Saints’ Day
The Catholic tradition is strong in Italy, and during the celebration of All Hallows’ Eve and All Saints’ Day, the people in Italy celebrate by offering Fave Dei Morti, beans that are traditionally given to the dead. Romans believed that spirits fed on these beans. The best celebrations in Italy are held in Borgo a Mozzano, Tuscany, which features spooky games, theatrical performances, and ghostly experiments. This is both a heavily religious and extremely fun celebration of Halloween in Italy.
These are just a few of the bizarre and not-so-bizarre Halloween traditions from around the world.
