Many cultures around the world have created unique ways to honor deceased family and friends, along with traditions designed to keep evil spirits at bay. There are many legends how the holiday was celebrated back in Celtic times. Satan was left utterly humiliated and vowed to leave Jack’s soul alone. In addition to honoring the dead, many Sumpango kite makers aim to deliver political messages. It remains unclear whether there is any significant uptick in animal sacrifices over Halloween. For people of other nationalities, Halloween can signify a completely different type of celebration. From turnip jack-o’-lanterns to alcohol-filled pumpkins, the world has some truly surprising Halloween traditions to offer. But Changfang had another idea. Even if you’re not ordinarily a baker, many people venture into the kitchen before the holidays to make sure that they’ve got plenty of treats to offer to family and friends. The resultant mixture is then set alight. In 1953, the event was moved to the Saturday between October 31 and November 6. The Devil obliged, and Jack placed the coin next to a cross. Here are ten of the most bizarre traditions from around the world that will make your jaw drop! Ireland . On Maundy Thursday, young girls dress as Easter hags, or as the Swedes call them, påskkärringar. Legend tells of a man, named Huan Jing, who saved his fellow villagers from pestilence. Sometimes, people are so excited that jack-o’-lanterns, sheaves of corn, and fake spider’s webs go up on the first day of October; we all know that Halloween candy has already been in stores for weeks. Souling continues to take place in small pockets of Britain, Portugal, and France. And why wouldn’t it be, it has got everything - ridiculously colorful costumes, candies, decoration, and not to forget, a crazy fandom. In other parts of the world though, Halloween is celebrated a lot differently. Check out these strange Halloween traditions from around the globe and see if … The Devil agreed to leave Jack alone for ten years in exchange for his freedom. Here are some of the strangest Halloween traditions that are practiced around the world. The natives celebrated this spooky event with a festival of the dead, called Samhain. Read more about everyone’s favorite ghoulish holiday on 10 Creepy Rituals We Once Used To Celebrate Halloween and 10 Things You Didn’t Know About The History Of Halloween. The Devil was not the brightest crayon in the pack, so he scrambled up the tree. Hindu Thaipusam Festival Piercings. You might think it difficult to draw a connection between kites and the dead, but the Guatemalans have done just that. Turnip carving still exists to this day, particularly in parts of Scotland. On October 30, little girls would unearth the vegetable and use it to work out what their future husbands would be like. American-style Halloween traditions only started appearing in Sweden in 1982. Meanwhile, Pythagoreans believed that the bean plant’s hollow stem served as a ladder between the realms of Hades and Earth. Many parts of Spain share similar Celtic traditions to other Western nations. Beet & Turnip Carving The Irish and Scots eventually immigrated to the United States, bringing the tradition to parts of the Northeast. These demonic doppelgangers were used to trick unsuspecting people into surrendering their food and drink. Among many Americans, Halloween is a fall favorite holiday but similar other celebrations are found in various parts of the world. Animal skins and heads were worn during these otherworldly ceremonies. The skulls are given offerings of food, cigarettes, and prayers throughout the day. But when Irish immigrants traveled to the United States, they discovered it was easier to carve the lanterns from pumpkins.[3]. If the cloth contains a ring, it means romance is in the cards. It was thought that a disease-bearing “river monster” was picking off the villagers, one by one. Today, most Halloween pranks are relatively benign (albeit annoying for the victims). Here are 12 Halloween (and Halloween-like) traditions from around … It is generally believed that Halloween originated from Ireland, and it is cool to see that the tradition is different from what we practice in North America. Get more Tips here! Thankfully, for those who enjoy a spot of baking, the Internet is peppered with an assortment of soul cake recipes. But it is celebrated today by more people in more countries than ever before. The event spans from October 31 to November 2. According to occult researcher Marcos Quinones, animal sacrifices take place in every US state, virtually all year round. Smoke reportedly billowed from the city for hours. In ancient Rome, it was thought that the souls of the dead were held within beans. Mariachi bands play lively music, and residents sing and dance in local cemeteries. Some superstitious locals used these animal skins to disguise themselves and ward off evil spirits. Stingy Jack was famous for his chronic drinking and manipulative behavior. The brewer ladles the flammable drink into the air, producing streams of fire. Most of the traditions might be odd but they are still a lot of fun to do and usually completely harmless. During the celebration of the religious holiday Thaipusam, Hindus declare their devotion to Lord Murugan by piercing various parts of their bodies. Every year, on November 1, the townsfolk of Sumpango and Santiago hold their renowned kite festival. Mischief Night, the night before Halloween, is a fairly recent North American Halloween tradition. Others celebrate by honoring the elderly. Halloween is big business in the United States and is the second-largest commercial holiday, lagging just behind Christmas.[1]. Outside of Bolivia, most would consider such behavior a tad eccentric, including the Roman Catholic Church. Kite makers spend months laboring on their colorful designs. Or will you stick with the classic bonfires, dress-ups and lollies? But why, to this day, do we walk around with hollowed-out fruits on October 31? But why skulls? However, most people stick with their usual order of Big Macs, Quarter Pounders, fries, McFlurries, and Apple Pies. Framed copies of this incantation are sometimes displayed in local taverns. To answer this, we turn to the Legend of Stingy Jack. Satan obliged and took his new friend to a nearby pub. The Celts lit enormous bonfires and made sacrificial offerings to the gods. It was theorized that the wall between the living and the dead would weaken, allowing the spirits to return home. It is celebrated in many parts of Asia, including China, Japan, and Vietnam. 10 Unusual Halloween Traditions around the World October 23, 2015 by Tessa Riley View All On 1 Page Halloween dates back centuries when it was widely celebrated in Celtic cultures such as Scotland and Ireland. Let’s take a look at some of the different Halloween traditions and celebrations around the world. If you’re a fast-food connoisseur, chances are you’re already familiar with the McDonald’s menu that’s typical in North America. The Devil was trapped, and Hell was without its prince. Copyright © 2021System1 LLCAll Rights Reserved. These Halloween traditions are not universal, though. Despite widespread aversion to the Day of the Skull, the practice is not proscribed. One of the lesser-known traditions involved the humble cabbage. The following is a list of 15 strange Halloween traditions around the world: 15. 1. Here are some of the strangest Halloween traditions that are practiced around the world. Some of the countries that have odd Halloween traditions include Belgium, Czechoslovakia, France and China. A single teardrop shape is often molded into the bun, representing the grief of losing a loved one. In an interview with the media, Managing Director Bengt Olander confessed that he only sold the decorations to appease his American wife, who had “nagged [him] for some years.” And it was a good thing Olander listened. The Most Unusual Lost Halloween Traditions From Around The World October 08, 2018 6:00 AM ‐ Halloween Today we associate Halloween with ghosts , ghouls and monsters, but traditionally All Hallows' Eve was a time to remember and celebrate departed loved ones, a tradition that lives on as the Day Of The Dead in Mexico and Latin American. Many countries have their own unique ways of celebrating this spine-tingling time of the year. http://www.destinationtips.comHalloween dates back centuries when it was widely celebrated in Celtic cultures. Family members maintain the grounds and often use incense to purify the gravestones. For most Americans, Halloween means trick-or-treating, parties with orange and black foods, and lots of miniature candy bars. We've stamped our passports in six specific nations to reveal some of the wackiest, if intriguing, customs found around the globe that have their traditions rooted in history. Weird And Creepy Halloween Traditions Around The World Updated 24 October 2019 | by Nakita Mason As the ultimate witching hour approaches and everyone starts jumping at shadows just a little more often, we humans do what we do best and get weird in order to either celebrate or appease the things that lurk in the shadows. It is an occasion to honor the dead and visit the graves of lost relatives. Maybe dressed as a cow while you eat barmbrack with tequila? [7] Schoolteachers now take their pupils on trips to retirement homes to interact with the elderly. American Halloween celebrations typically feature jack-o-lanterns, costumes, decorations of skeletons and spider webs, horror movie marathons, and the best part, lots of candy. The skulls are often handed down from one generation to the next and prettied up with hats, glasses, flowers, and coca leaves. In 2017, around 10,000 seniors trekked up a mountain in Northeastern China’s Zhoushan city. However, the Galicia community, in the northwest of Spain, use pumpkins a little differently. There, the worshipers sit through a service with their prized craniums. Swedish All Saints’ Day is celebrated in the same vein as many Latin American countries. There are a few strange traditions, however. It turns out that many of Bolivia’s poor still retain superstitious beliefs. Here are just a few of the best. Toilet-papered trees, flaming bags of dog feces, and egg-covered houses are the order of the day. The alcoholic punch is made using coffee beans, orange peel, cinnamon, and liquor. 7 Strange Halloween Traditions from Around the World. In 1991, Mischief Night brought out the worst in the people of Camden, New Jersey. Many families hold ceremonies, visit the graves of their loved ones, clean headstones, and leave offerings. ... and pagan traditions has influenced Halloween since the … Locals engaged in a number of bizarre rites. Carrying the wife over burning coals, China Some tribes in China follow a strange tradition where the husband carries his wife and walks over burning coals. They wander in … 14 Weird Facts About The History Of Halloween Around The World 12/9/2020 ... the time viewed Halloween as strange and foreign. The shape is quite deliberate, however. And vice versa! ... Around the World in Holiday Baking. 5 Weird and Wonderful Halloween Traditions Around The World. They believe there are a total of seven souls, one of which is contained within the skull. The all saints day is also celebrated in Portugal. Bonfires and lanterns are lit to guide dead relatives that return to the world, and food is placed in front of their portraits so they can fatten up before winter. 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So Stingy Jack convinced the Devil to transform into a coin. From eating skull masks as candy in Mexico, to fire dancing in Ireland - we discover all the different ways Halloween is celebrated around the world. The “beans” are actually almond-flavored cookies that look vaguely reminiscent of fava beans. One common way to celebrate the season is to build two bonfires on Halloween night and dance through them in a rite of purification. These altars are placed near headstones, boasting marigold flowers, food, photos, and family trinkets. While some traditions like trick-or-treating, dressing in costume, and carving pumpkins are largely universal, some countries and cultures have traditions that depart from those norms. And, while some rituals are charming others are just plain bizarre. Many of the holidays, religious or otherwise, that we celebrate today stem from Gaelic tradition. Samhain marks the completion of a successful harvest and serves as a transition into the winter season. 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