Hellobee

Halloween has never been a big deal for me and I didn’t really enjoy it, even when I was child, because I was very shy and didn’t like the whole trick-or-treating process. I also don’t eat chocolate, and my mother only let me keep a set number of pieces of candy (maybe around 10?). My mom also felt like buying a costume every year for one day was a waste of money so she often told me to wear the same costume year after year; I think I was a tiger three years in a row. Despite living in California, my mom made me wear a turtleneck and leggings under all of my costumes, which seriously detracted from my look the years I dressed up as a fairy. All of this to say that I never really liked Halloween.

As an August baby, Lion was almost three months old when Halloween rolled around his first year and I had pretty much no interest in dressing him up. But then I felt a little guilty, especially because the grandparents kept asking what he was going to be, so the day before Halloween, Mr. Dolphin and I went to Old Navy and picked up one of the only two costumes left in the store: a skeleton onesie that we scored for 80% off the original price.

Last year, we figured we could use either his Where the Wild Things Are hoodie or Captain America hoodie and call it a day. He wasn’t old enough to understand dressing up and costumes are expensive per wear, especially if they are used only once. Lion was obsessed with pumpkins, however, so we purchased some and every day he would want to carry one around the house. Other than that, we didn’t do anything to celebrate Halloween.

 Enjoying the park last October.

This year, Lion has shown a lot of interest in dress-up and imaginative play so it seems like a good opportunity to purchase a costume that he might enjoy even after Halloween. He will likely go as an astronaut since I got an amazing deal off eBay for a costume; he loves all things space related and one of his favorite books is Moustronaut! His daycare holds a fall festival and kids dress up, and we’ll also be visiting a nearby pumpkin festival. Panda will likely end up in the same skeleton onesie that we dressed Lion up in his first year because, well, second child. I don’t think we are likely to go trick-or-treating, though, because we don’t give Lion candy, he’s extremely shy, and the kids have an early bedtime.

Last year, we ended up in Venice over Halloween. Being out of the country reminded me that not every country celebrates Halloween, or if they do, they celebrate it in different ways. I’m always fascinated by different traditions (and recently learned that Halloween is celebrated in very different ways even in the United States. Where I grew up, children rang doorbells, shouted “trick-or-treat” and received candy; apparently in some parts of the country, kids are required to tell a joke instead). It seems to have originated in Ireland but is celebrated in different ways around the world today. These celebrations aren’t always on the 31st, but there are many fall celebrations that have at least some similarities to Halloween.

Italy

From what we could tell, Italy (or at least Venice) doesn’t really celebrate Halloween. All Saint’s Day on November 1st and All Soul’s Day on the 2nd are bigger holidays. While, of course, Halloween was originally designed to be an event the day before All Saint’s Day (the eve before All Hallow’s Day), it’s not necessarily worldwide, even in Catholic countries. In Italy, while Halloween isn’t celebrated, All Saints Day is a national holiday. People will visit friends and family, and there are different traditions around the country from leaving out water for the spirits, to sharing special treats or setting a table/seat for the dead. They will also visit grave sites of deceased friends and family, delivering flowers or other offerings.

Photo by virtusincertus, CC-BY-2.0

England

Mr. Dolphin and I spent a year in London several years ago and Halloween passed without much activity. Because Halloween originated as an event in conjunction with All Saint’s Day, it makes sense that a Protestant country wouldn’t really celebrate. While October 31st came and went like any other day, November 5th was a day of festivities with bonfires, fireworks and Guy Fawkes effigies everywhere. November 5th, also known as Guy Fawkes Day, remembers a day in 1605 when Guy Fawkes and other Catholic individuals conspired to blow up the English Parliament: “Remember remember the 5th of November. Gunpowder, treason and plot. I know of no reason the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot.” The Guy Fawkes plot has had long lasting effects in England, including the 1701 Act of Settlement that prohibits heirs to the throne from marrying a Roman Catholic (unless he renounces claims to the throne).

Fireworks are a common sight onGuy Fawkes Day. Photo by Daviau Victor, CC-BY-2.0

Mexico

Mexico is known for its celebration of Dia de Muertos (the Day of the Dead), which takes focus on remembering the departed, particularly friends and family members who have passed. Growing up in California, I remember the bakeries selling sugar skulls and bread of the dead at the end of October. It is a true celebration of All Souls Day and spans October 31st to November 1st, though I recall festivals taking place several days before or after, with music and dancing, people dressed as skeletons, makeshift altars, and lots of food.

Traditional skulls in Mexico. Photo by Gabriel Saldana, CC-BY-SA 2.0

China

In China, people celebrate the Hungry Ghost Festival which takes place on the 15th of the 7th lunar month, usually in early fall. The 7th lunar month is called “Ghost Month” because it is believed that on the first day of this month, the gates of the afterlife are thrown open and ghosts are free to roam the earth for a month. In order to appease the spirits, people make offerings of food, money or other goods throughout the month. On the 15th of the month, coinciding with the full moon, the Hungry Ghost Festival is held and people celebrate with a ghost-feeding ceremony. There is a family dinner, shared with ghosts, an outdoor ceremony for any ghosts passing. Floating lanterns are also often purchased, to send spirits back to their home, though tradition has the send off at the end of the month. There are festival celebrations all over China, with food and entertainment; the front row of the shows are left open for the spirits. Ceremonies at the festivals are generally performed by Buddhist and Taoist monks.

Incense and offerings for the spirits.  Photo by benoxi, CC-BY-2.0

Japan

Japan celebrates the three-day Obon Festival, a Buddhist tradition to honor the spirits of ancestors. The celebration takes place at different times depending on the region; some celebrate it in July, August (most common), or at the same time as the Hungry Ghost Festival in China (the 15th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar). During Obon, it is believed that ancestors’ spirits will come back to their homes or grave sites and people will clean their homes, return to their hometowns or sweep graves in preparation.

People believe that their ancestors’ spirits come back to their homes to be reunited with their family during Obon and pray for the spirits. For this reason, Obon is an important family gathering time, and many people return to their hometowns. People in Japan will place food offerings for their ancestors in front of a Buddhist altar and light lanterns on pathways to guide the spirits home. At the end of Obon, Japanese people will send off the spirits with lanterns, as well, and floating lanterns are popular. A Japanese folk dance, Bon Odori, is usually performed during this period, as well.

Photo by Fabian Reus, CC-BY-SA-2.0

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What are some Halloween traditions in the United States that are region specific? What other celebrations are there around the world to celebrate Halloween or the dead?