LSA ‘Did You Know?’ Blog Series – Halloween Around the World

  • October 30, 2014
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  • Blog

Image via Flickr

Halloween, the spooky spectacle of a holiday that brings out the ghoulish goodness in everyone. Candy, costumes, scary movies and superstitions represent what most people have come to associate with this holiday, but did you know Halloween is one of the oldest holidays in existence and is rooted in ancient Pagan origins?

Halloween and similar celebrations of spirits are some of the most widely celebrated holidays in the world, and nations across the globe add their own unique flair to the holidays.  In this ‘Did You Know’ blog post, we would like to showcase the interesting and sinisterly special ways different cultures around the world honor the Halloween Holiday!

Did You Know?

  • Ireland is considered to be where the tradition of Halloween began.
  • In Australia people leave water, bread and a lamp to welcome back the dead for one night.
  • Germans put away knives on Halloween night to protect themselves from harmful spirits.
  • In August, “Chusok” is celebrated in Korea, which is very similar to Halloween.  Koreans use this day to celebrate and thank their ancestors’ spirits.
  • Mexicans celebrate Halloween with not one night, but three! This is known as “El Dia de los Muertos” or “The Day of the Dead”.
  • Hong Kong’s Halloween celebration is known as “Yue Lan” or “The Festival of the Hungry Ghosts.”  It is believed that for 24 hours that spirits roam the world, and it is a custom for people to burn pictures of fruit or money to appease the spirits.
  • The “Obon Festival” in Japan is very similar to Halloween, where lanterns and candles are set afloat on the sea and rivers to help ancestral spirits find their families.
  • In Czechoslovakia, chairs are left by the fireside, one for all living members of the family and one for all spirits.

How do you and your family celebrate Halloween? Make sure to tell us in our creepy comment section below!  Have a great Halloween!!