Halloween has its roots in ancient traditions and rituals related to the Celtic festival of Samhain. Samhain was celebrated in ancient Ireland, Scotland and Wales at the turn of October and November. It was a periodic celebration marking the end of the harvest season and preparation for the darker and colder months, and was associated with the "death" of crops.It was believed that on the night from October 31 to November 1, the boundary between the world of the living and the dead became thinner, allowing the spirits of the dead to haunt the world of the living. People in Celtic communities lit fires and wore masks to scare away evil spirits. It was also an opportunity to make offerings and fortune telling. With the spread of Christianity, this holiday was taken over by the Church and associated with All Saints' Day, celebrated on November 1. However, many of the original customs associated with Samhain have survived. Modern Halloween is a mixture of various cultural influences and traditions, including costumes, pumpkins with carved patterns, "trick or treat" and various types of games and decorations with scary elements. H

We would like to share with you the most exquisite Halloween customs around the world.

“Trick or Treat” in the United States

Children dress in scary or funny costumes and then go door to door asking for sweets, saying “trick or treat”. This is an opportunity to collect huge amounts of candy and show off your creative costumes at the same time. Families often decorate their homes with spooky ornaments, as well as carved pumpkins and place candles in them to create jack-o’-lanterns.

Día de los Muertos in Mexico

In Mexico, Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, is celebrated and is associated with Halloween. On this day, people create colorful ofrendas (offerings) on the graves of their loved ones and prepare sugar skulls and sweets in the shape of dead bones. This holiday is intended to honor and remember the dead.

Pumpkins in the UK

In the UK, it is popular to celebrate All Saints’ Day on November 1, and the evening before this day is similar to Halloween. People go to costume parties and children collect candy just like in the US. Additionally, carving pumpkins and placing candles in them is a tradition known as “jack-o’-lanterns”. These scary lanterns are placed in the yard and windows to scare away evil spirits.

Samhain in Ireland

As we have already mentioned, the prototype of Halloween was Celtic holidays, especially Samhain in Ireland. This is a time when, according to Celtic beliefs, the boundaries between the world of the living and the dead become thinner, allowing the spirits of the dead to haunt the world of the living. Traditionally, people lit fires and wore masks to scare away evil spirits.

Growing popularity in Japan and China

Halloween is becoming more and more popular in Japan and China, especially in the cities. Shops offer costumes and decorations, and young people organize costume parties and festivals related to this holiday, but it does not have the same traditions as in Western countries.

It is worth remembering that Halloween is not only an opportunity to have fun, but also a time when people can express their creativity through costumes and decorations. It is also a great opportunity to spend time with family and friends. Regardless of where Halloween is celebrated in the world, one thing is certain – it is a holiday full of magic, fun and unforgettable moments.