Halloween around the world
Delving into the origins of Halloween and its various traditions across cultures.
As fall leaves adorn the ground, the second scariest event of the year (after midterms) looms around the corner—Halloween. While you scramble to arrange the perfect costume or find the right candy to hand out, you might begin to wonder—what is Halloween really about?
Why is it called Halloween?
Halloween traces its roots to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, a pagan celebration held to welcome the harvest at the end of summer. During Samhain, people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off or confuse wandering spirits, believing the boundary between the living and the dead was blurred at that time.
In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated the first of November as All Saints Day to honour saints and martyrs. Over time, some Samhain traditions blended with this Christian observance, and the evening before All Saints Day—known as All Hallows Eve—eventually became Halloween.
The rest of the Halloween traditions, such as pumpkin carving or trick-or-treating, are also thought to have come from various places in Europe.
Why pumpkins?
Before pumpkin carving, there was turnip carving. It originated from the myth of Stingy Jack, who is said to have tricked the devil for monetary gain. As a result, when Jack died, he was denied entry into both heaven and hell and was forced to wander around the world in spirit form for eternity. As this myth circulated, people in Ireland began carving scary faces into turnips to scare away Jack’s soul. The use of turnips was later replaced by pumpkins when Irish immigrants moved across the Atlantic and began carving native pumpkins instead.
Trick-or-treat
Though the origin of trick-or-treating is less apparent, there are theories that it also began with Samhain, when food was laid out to appease the spirits during the festival. The German tradition of “belsnickeling” is also credited for introducing the element of treats in this tradition, as the Belsnickel, who is said to be Santa’s companion, would hand out small treats to good children. Belsnickeling eventually evolved into an activity where people would dress up for their neighbours to guess who their costumes represent. This activity then introduced the element of trick-or-treating in one’s neighbourhood.
On the other hand, while many cultures have shaped the modern-day Halloween, there are also many variations of celebrating this time of year around the world.
The British “Halloween”
In England, Halloween is often eclipsed by the festivities of Guy Fawkes Day on the fifth of November. The day has less to do with evil spirits and pumpkins, but more to do with gunpowder and fireworks.
The day’s origins can be traced back to 1605, when a man named Guy Fawkes attempted to assassinate King James I. Fawkes and his conspirators planned to blow up the Parliament’s House of Lords, but were caught and executed. Fireworks and bonfires were lit that day to celebrate their failure, and the day is still commemorated 400 years later to celebrate the demise of Fawkes.
The Mexican “Halloween”
Another famous holiday, which takes place on the first and second days of November, is the Mexican Día de los Muertos, also known as the Day of the Dead. Originating over 3,000 years ago, this occasion marks the day when the gates of heaven open and the deceased return to their families to feast and celebrate. In many homes, altars, also called “ofrendas”, are set up and decorated with candles, marigolds, and lined with the favourite foods of the deceased. Skulls are also a common theme during this day, with many wearing skull masks and eating candy in the shape of skulls.
The Chinese “Halloween”
Following the theme of ancestral connections, many in China celebrate the Qingming Festival, which takes place earlier in the year, on the fourth or fifth of April. Qingming, also known as Tomb Sweeping Day, received its name from the traditions of people cleaning their ancestors’ graves and placing offerings as a sign of respect.
While these offerings were initially elaborate, ranging from incense to joss paper to wine, many just leave flowers nowadays. Such simplification has become a common phenomenon for most celebrations of similar traditional holidays.
As time goes by, traditions have changed and become modernized. After all, not many of us will be celebrating a harvest or carving turnips this year. However, learning about the histories of these holidays can help us better appreciate their cultural value, while also celebrating the modern adaptations that continuously allow them to thrive across generations.
