Alicia's Travel Guide
- Oct 31, 2020

Halloween-esque Celebrations Around The World

Halloween originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. People would wear costumes to scare off ghosts and ghouls, and light bonfires as it is believed that ghosts of the dead returned to earth on the night of the 31st of October. Today, Ireland and Scotland are seen as the origin of modern Halloween as Samhain is still celebrated.

Interestingly, many cultures have their own sub-culture celebrating the lives of loved ones, showing signs of respects and adoration through gifts, traditions and ceremonies.

As time has progressed, Halloween has evolved into activities such as trick or treating your neighbours, dressing up in costumes, and carving pumpkins! For the past two years, I have celebrated Halloween in Hong Kong. On the night of the 31st, everyone dresses up and goes clubbing in the famous Lang Kwai Fong (LKF), it's absolutely crazy. I stayed at the Prudential in Jordan HK, it was on the MTR line and wasn't too expensive but I suspect this was on the balance of the unfortunate protests.

In 2018, I was in Tokyo the week before Halloween, and celebrations had already begun!

Around the world, a lot of countries have different variations of the traditional Halloween celebration. This article discusses the most famous and unique variations.

Mexico: Día de Muertos

Perhaps one of the most famous celebrations is Día de Muertos (Day Of The Dead) that's celebrated in Mexico. This is a two-day celebration of both life and death, by showing respect and love to family members who have passed away. Over the 1st and 2nd of November, locals will dress up with costumes and makeup and hold parades all throughout the country. It is believed that the gates of Heaven open at Midnight on October 31st and the souls of children return to earth for 24 hours, then adults join the celebration on November 2nd. Locals offer presents and gifts to the dead as a sign of love and respect.

Korea: Chuseok

Koreans celebrate this three-day holiday, from August 15th, in order to pay respect to the spirits of ancestors. There are three aspects, Bulcho, Sungmyo, and Charye. Bulcho: They will visit their home towns to visit the resting place of their ancestors, ensuring the plants are trimmed and the area is clear. This is one celebration that continues to be celebrated in both North and South Korea. Sungmyo: A thanksgiving style of giving food and drink to the resting place of these ancestors. Finally, Charye, a celebration of food at home. Although this celebration is a festival for both the North and South, the North's is much less flamboyant due to the poor being unable to visit graves or serve offerings.

Haiti: Fête Guédé

Fête means festival and Guédé means sacred dead. Ultimately a festival for the dead, a Voodoo spirit. Celebrated on November 2nd, this celebration involves attending church to pray for those who have passed away and dressing up and dancing, as well as numerous other symbolistic actions such as feasting, This celebration has been described as Halloween and Día de Muertos combined.

Romania: Day of Dracula

Transylvania, a place that could strike fear into the hearts of those of whom had to study the famous Dracula in English lit.

In reality, Transylvania is actually an immaculate town located in central Romania. Many people will celebrate the Day of Dracula, both on October 31st and May 26th (Day of Dracula) in Romania. Very similar to our Halloween in the west, it is celebrated with parties, parades, and dressing up.

Japan: Kawasaki Halloween Parade and Obon

Each year will be a different theme, and of course, there will be a contest. On October 31st, the Japanese celebrate the west's typical Halloween. This year is "cyberspace" as the parade cannot be held in person this year. The Kawasaki parade is one of the largest in the entire of the country. Obon is Japans own Halloween-esque celebration. it is a Buddhist festival which is held on either July 15th or August 15th. This celebration lasts three days and is similar to Korea's Chuseok by cleaning graves etc. The Japanese will also perform the 'Bon Odori' dance.