Halloween is the most anticipated day of the year for most Americans, regardless of how old you are. Adults go to parties and celebrations, young people and teenagers are sure to find a club or haunted house to visit, and children, dressed up from the day before, go on a candy hunt – promising unparalleled mischief if they don’t get their prize. . The decision is up to the adults: trick or treat?
But is Halloween celebrated only in the United States? Definitely not… And we can prove it! The holiday, celebrated on October 31st, is celebrated all over the world – even in Brazil! Despite its history that goes back to the Celtic peoples and some religious traditions considered to be pagan, the truth, like anything else in history, is that the way to celebrate today is very different from many centuries ago.
Without further ado… it’s time to get to know a little more about Halloween tradition and culture in some countries!
HALLOWEEN IN GERMANY
Celebrated by many on All Saints’ Day, or Allerheiligentag, in German, Halloween in Germany is very similar to the way it is celebrated in the United States, where many children go out in costume to ask for sweets and decorate their houses with the famous jack-o’-lanterns Jack -o-lantern.
A presença das bruxas já é algo bem diferente, sendo mais aparente e intenso, por conta do papel que as “bruxas” ocupavam no passado da Alemanha. Para muitos alemães, o Halloween se misturou com a tradição do país que é conhecida como Dia das Bruxas, ou Walpurgisnacht, que é celebrado na noite depois do dia 1º de maio.
HALLOWEEN IN BRAZIL
In Brazil, the influence of Halloween came mainly from language courses, which have the custom of having themed parties, where students go in costume. Brazilians liked the date and it is already customary to see Halloween props being sold in stores.
A curiosity: as a way of valuing Brazilian culture and folklore, some cities, such as SP and Fortaleza, made October 31st official as the “Day of Saci”. The date has been official since 2003 and is a response to the wave of Americanized Halloween that has become present in the country.
HALLOWEEN IN THE UK
As we have already learned that Halloween has Celtic origins, countries like Scotland and Ireland (which had a part of the post just for her) celebrate the roots of the Samhain festival, with huge bonfires and parades through the cities.
However, the rest of the British territory does not take traditions very seriously. Trick or treating is not very popular and not all people wear costumes on the 31st. What is more common are parties in bars and clubs and themed tours through tourist attractions such as the London Eye.
One of the attractions of the Ferris wheel is a 30-minute experience where a person tells four different stories about ghosts based in London, one of which is not real. The dynamic is performed for both children and adults.
HALLOWEEN IN IRELAND
As mentioned above, Ireland is believed to be the birthplace of Halloween. Today, the Irish still light big bonfires in honor of the date and hold parades through the cities.
The Irish also have a tradition of Barmbrack, a type of bread similar to panettone. The difference is that this special bread for Halloween has objects inside to play guessing the future. This tradition also comes from the Celts, according to some historians. If one of the objects is a ring, for example, it means that you are getting married soon.
HALLOWEEN IN MEXICO
In Mexico, Halloween coincides with Dia de Los Muertos, one of the most important holidays in the country. Unlike traditional Halloween, O Dia de Los Muertos in Mexico has a more joyful and engaging meaning. Celebrated between the 31st and 2nd of November, death is celebrated with lots of color and joy.
On this date, the whole country mobilizes and family and friends get together and celebrate the visit of the ancestors who have died.
HALLOWEEN IN ITALY
Not unlike the celebration in Germany, for example, Halloween in Italy is also celebrated on All Saints’ Day, known as La Festa di Ognissanti, in Italian, or on the Day of the Dead, also called Il Giorno dei Morti.
Being a religious festival in Italy, the date is also a national holiday there. On that day, Italians usually go to mass, celebrate with friends and family, and eat wonderful desserts, such as the dolci dei morti.
HALLOWEEN IN FRANCE
Unlike other places around the world, Halloween in France is more reserved, so to speak. In that sense, it’s not as lively as in places like the United States or Canada, but it has its value. The party there is known as La Toussaint, in French.
Another curiosity is that, unlike the traditional trick or treat, the French usually say candies or a spell (des bonbons or un sort). It is also common for costumes to be scary rather than fun, and you visit many scary places!
And then? What do you think? Tell us where you prefer to celebrate Halloween! And don’t forget that with Auding Idiomas’ German, French and Italian you can freely participate in the holiday and have fun speaking a language totally different from your own!
Written by Ítalo Leonardo Silva Medeiros da Cunha.
