Halloween is a holiday celebrated in many countries in very different ways, usually from the night of October 31 until a couple days later. Ireland, Japan, and Mexico celebrate it very differently, but they all share the same tradition.
In Ireland, Halloween is celebrated with huge festivals, community gatherings, and special food. The festivals come from Samhain, an ancient Gaelic festival, which marks the start of the colder season and the end of the warmer season. Ireland was the first country to celebrate Halloween, about two thousand years ago before it traveled to America and then to the rest of the world.
In Ireland, Halloween is celebrated on the night of October 31, but it runs until November 1. Irish people meet on Halloween, build a huge bonfire, and fill it with items that will not make it through the winter, like the bones of their livestock. Couples sometimes put two hazelnuts into the bonfire embers side by side. If they roast quietly, it means a steady, happy relationship, whereas if they crack, it signals a troubling future. Families also cook a huge feast called a dumb supper that everyone eats in complete silence to honor their ancestors and loved ones.
In Japan, Halloween is celebrated with an emphasis on costumes and pop culture. It’s not like America with trick-or-treating, but there are lots of markets, intricate costumes, and amusement parks. People don’t just dress up as the usual monsters but instead, dress up as anime heroes and everyday concepts. For example, someone might dress up as the guy who lost the keys to their car. There are also some Halloween horror nights when there would be zombie raids through the streets.
In Mexico, the holiday is called Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, and it runs from October 31 to November 2. On the first night, kids will go around door to door chanting rhymes with a mini plastic skull to collect candy and little treats. Then, the next day is about remembering the children who have died. Families will get together with their children and celebrate them specifically. Finally, the last day is the most significant day with the largest ceremonies. It is when families remember their ancestors and all their loved ones who have passed away. There are big family gatherings where they talk about a favorite thing they did with a loved one who passed away or something they did for them. They do this by putting important items by the grave and telling stories to the rest of the family.
Halloween has many different meanings around the world, with countries like Mexico, Japan and Ireland all having unique traditions. It is not just about going door to door asking for candy, but it’s about bringing people together for big events and important ceremonies.
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