Originating almost 2,000 years ago, Halloween was first celebrated by Celtic people in Europe to celebrate the end of the harvest season and the start of a new year called Samhain. These ancient celebrations were nothing like what they demonstrate in Halloween Hollywood movies. This holiday has a dark spiritual history where people believed that they could communicate with the dead, make sacrifices, predict the future or ward off evil spirits. Halloween now is celebrated as a "pagan ritual". People host parties and jack-o'-lanterns and trick-or-treating have become synonymous with Halloween. t2 takes you trick-or-treating around the world to show how Halloween is celebrated.
Salem, Massachusetts, USA: Known as the iconic Halloween destination, Salem in Massachusetts is believed to have the largest Halloween celebration in the world. It comes with the dark history of the witch trials of the 1600s and more than 200 people were accused of practising dark magic and were executed. The land of Salem is still believed to have some "witchy power" which attracts more than 700,000 tourists from around the world during Halloween. Every house is spookily decorated for the season and hosts Halloween activities like seances, learning the history of the witch trials, Halloween parades and many more.
Dia de Los Muertos or the Day of the Dead in Mexico: Dia De Los Muertos or the Day of the Dead is a two-day celebration with a colourful fusion of traditional indigenous customs. According to popular belief, in these two days, the spirits of the deceased family members come back to visit their families and the living greet them with flowers and parades. People paint their faces like skeletons with images of intricately decorated skulls. The importance of this festival is to celebrate both past and present.
Samhain in Ireland: Being a Celtic region, Ireland celebrates Halloween in a more traditional way. The Celts believed that the living and the dead moved between worlds, so they disguised themselves as ghosts, fairies and demons to confuse evil spirits. In the modern day, dressing up during Halloween in Ireland is rooted in these customs where people light bonfires on hilltops in Ireland like Hill of Ward. Clans and communities gather together to light huge ceremonial Samhain fire.
Bhoot Chaturdashi in India: Even India has its Halloween, celebrated mainly in West Bengal. Bhoot Chaturdashi involves lighting 14 earthen lamps that symbolise 14 forefathers. They are kept in front of doors and outside the windows to ward off evil spirits.
Barriletes Gigantes in Guatemala: Every year the people of Guatemala celebrate the dead with the unique Barriletes Gigantes or the Giant Kites Festival. Large, brightly-coloured kites are made from local, natural materials and following the 3,000-year-old Mayan custom, they are set off in the cemeteries.
Kawasaki Halloween Parade in Japan: This city in Japan has been hosting the one-of-a-kind Halloween parade since the late '90s. The costumes in the parade get more terrifying each year and different horror movie screenings take place. Adults and children participate in the parade dressed as grisly ghouls, enough to give you a nightmares.
Ognissanti in Italy: 'Ognissanti' which translates to All Saints' Day is celebrated in Italy. It is believed that the souls of the deceased come back to visit their loved ones. During these celebrations, cemeteries are decorated with chrysanthemums and candles are lit on the tombs. Family members leave food out too.
Guy Fawkes Night in the UK: While the USA has Halloween, UK has Guy Fawkes Night. Guy Fawkes Night is traditionally celebrated a few days after Halloween to commemorate the failure of the 17th-century Gunpowder Plot. One of the conspirators of the plot to assassinate King James I, was Guy Fawkes. Today it is celebrated by lighting up bonfires and burning creepy-looking effigies of Guy Fawkes.
Samhain in Ireland: Being a Celtic region, Ireland celebrates Halloween in a more traditional way. The Celts believed that the living and the dead moved between worlds, so they disguised themselves as ghosts, fairies and demons to confuse evil spirits. In the modern day, dressing up during Halloween in Ireland is rooted in these customs where people light bonfires on hilltops in Ireland like Hill of Ward. Clans and communities gather together to light huge ceremonial Samhain fire.