Just like Christmas or Easter, Halloween has become an unavoidable celebration: we got used to the children knocking on our door and saying "trick or treat", to orange and black decorations in supermarkets, to Starbucks inventing another Zombie Frapuccino, pumpkins, horror movies, and funny costumes for the traditional Halloween party.
Originally coming the Celtic culture (and called Samhain), this day was supposed to be the last of the year, and marked the beggining of the "dark season". On this special date, several rituals were practiced to honor the deads. However, since the moon was full, it was believed that spirits could come back in our world, and any supernatural phenomenon was then possible.
Despite the cultural globalization, that spread more or less the same traditions of celebrating Halloween around the world, some countries still have their own way to do it (let's think about the Fiesta de los Muertos in Mexico for instance).
Indeed, there are several traditions that deserve to be mentionned :
- First, in Austria, during the whole week - called "Seleenwoche" - people have to leave a lamp, a piece of bread and some water on the table before going to bed. This definitely sounds gloomy, because they expect spirits to come anytime in the week...
- In Nigeria, the event isn't really joyful either: during the so-called "Odo Festival", Nigerians welcome the spirits that have returned to our world. They stay here for six months (!) and then leave those still alive until next year. In the meantime, Nigerians have to entertain them, and make them "feel like home".
- Finally in Japan, Halloween is replaced by the Obon Festival, and takes place in the middle of August. It includes 3 phases, during of which people have to dance the bon-odori, slowly moving in concentric circles along with the spirits...
Originally coming the Celtic culture (and called Samhain), this day was supposed to be the last of the year, and marked the beggining of the "dark season". On this special date, several rituals were practiced to honor the deads. However, since the moon was full, it was believed that spirits could come back in our world, and any supernatural phenomenon was then possible.
Despite the cultural globalization, that spread more or less the same traditions of celebrating Halloween around the world, some countries still have their own way to do it (let's think about the Fiesta de los Muertos in Mexico for instance).
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| Fiesta de los Muertos, Mexico |
- First, in Austria, during the whole week - called "Seleenwoche" - people have to leave a lamp, a piece of bread and some water on the table before going to bed. This definitely sounds gloomy, because they expect spirits to come anytime in the week...
- In Nigeria, the event isn't really joyful either: during the so-called "Odo Festival", Nigerians welcome the spirits that have returned to our world. They stay here for six months (!) and then leave those still alive until next year. In the meantime, Nigerians have to entertain them, and make them "feel like home".
- Finally in Japan, Halloween is replaced by the Obon Festival, and takes place in the middle of August. It includes 3 phases, during of which people have to dance the bon-odori, slowly moving in concentric circles along with the spirits...
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