While Halloween is often considered a Christian holiday, its roots are actually more complex than they seem. Many traditional elements of Halloween actually stem from the Celtic pagan festival of Samhain. With the rise of Christianity in countries like England and Ireland, these pagan festivals became synonymous with Halloween. How were they celebrated? It’s simple: people wore costumes and masks to blend in with the souls of the dead who had returned to earth to settle scores with them. It is this tradition, in fact, that is most commonly found around the world today. However, many other cultures have different ways of honoring the souls of the dead. Here is a list of 8 fascinating ways to celebrate Halloween around the world.
1. Giving “Soul Cakes” in England, the Philippines, and Portugal
“Soul
Cakes” are small, round cakes made for Halloween. They are given to children who go door-to-door singing and praying for the souls of the dead. This tradition was once widespread throughout England. In some regions, those who went from house to house carried a horse’s head on a stick—called an “old cob”—which you certainly wouldn’t want to come across in the dark. This tradition is very old, dating back to medieval England. It still exists in some countries, notably the Philippines and Portugal. The cakes are offered in exchange for a promise from the recipient: to pray for the souls of the donor’s family.
2. El Día de los Muertos, a Mexican tradition celebrated around the world
El Día de los Muertos
is a Mexican tradition
that has become famous worldwide for the bright and elaborate costumes worn during the festival. To honor the souls of deceased relatives and ancestors, people gather to pray and celebrate life
. Altars are set up in homes for the deceased. They are then adorned with flowers and the favorite belongings of those who have passed away. Their graves are tended and decorated, and gifts
are placed there for their spirits. It is a very colorful and joyful celebration
of life and death.
3. Pangangaluwa in the Philippines
In some regions of the Philippines, Pangangaluwa
takes place on All
Saints’
Day. Children wrap themselves in white sheets to look like ghosts and go door to door asking for treats
. Sometimes, “Soul Cakes” are given to the children in exchange for singing and praying. Some Filipinos also travel to their hometowns and sit on the graves of their loved ones, sometimes for an entire night. The family eats, plays, and reminisces about the life of the deceased.
4. In Ireland, people hide items in a cake called Barmbrack
Barmbrack
is a delicious Irish cake, filled with dried fruit and often served with a cup of tea. In the 18th century, Barmbracks were baked for Halloween
and contained a ring, a pea, a stick, a coin, and a rag. If you were served the slice containing a ring, you were sure to get married
soon. The pea meant the opposite: no marriage for you, and the stick foretold a difficult marriage. The rag predicted a life of poverty
for whoever received it, and the coin meant you would become rich. Barmbracks are still a Halloween
tradition in Ireland, but they’re no longer filled with sticks and peas. Sometimes a coin is still slipped into the cake, and children have fun guessing who will find it. Doesn’t that remind you of our galette des rois
?
5. The Teng Chieh Festival in China
Teng Chieh—
also known as the Ghost Festival
—marks the end of the Lunar New Year, coinciding with the full moon
. People hang lanterns outside their homes and businesses, creating a magnificent spectacle of flickering lights every year. In San
Francisco’s Chinatown, a 160-foot dragon is paraded through the streets, accompanied by marching bands, dancers, and floats. A “lion dance” can also be seen during this celebration. What is a lion dance
? Two men operate a huge lion puppet from the inside and make it dance in the street. The Teng Chieh festival also serves to wish the spirits a safe journey to heaven
. As with most festivals worthy of the name, plenty of food is prepared and offered to the spirits of departed ancestors.
6. Pchum Ben Celebrations in Cambodia
Pchum Ben is generally celebrated in October
in Cambodia
and lasts 15 days. People pay tribute to their deceased loved ones. When the gates of hell open
and allow souls to wander the earth, people offer food to their loved ones, either directly or through a monk. The 15 days during which the souls wander on Earth are a time of celebration
rather than sadness, as people gather to eat and play music
.
7. Making Fave dei morti Cookies in Italy
In Italy, “Fave dei morti”
cookies were once made from fava beans, but today they are made with almonds, which is much more appetizing. They are traditionally eaten on All
Saints’
Day ,
which is also the day when relatives visit the graves of their loved ones and tend to them, sometimes dressed in black. In some regions of Italy, men send their fiancées boxes containing these little “Fave dei morti” cookies, along with an engagement ring
. In Rome, it’s a popular day to pop the question: “Will
you marry me
?” In Palermo, Sicily, people celebrate this day by sending candy to children and placing gifts on the graves of their deceased loved ones.
8. Peeling apples to predict the future in the United Kingdom and Ireland
Although this Halloween tradition isn’t very popular anymore in 2023, it hasn’t completely disappeared. On Halloween, people peel an apple and toss a slice of the peel behind them. The piece of peel will curl up on the ground, and the shape of the letter it forms will be the first initial of their future spouse
. In Scotland, people would sometimes pull the stems from heads of kale and use them in the same way… Just like in Italy, love is strangely intertwined with celebrations of ghosts and spirits
.
