Buzz
In the U.S., October 31 is widely celebrated with trick-or-treating, pumpkin carving, and wearing eerie costumes. Halloween is a major commercial event in the U.S., ranking as the second-largest holiday after Christmas.
However, these Halloween customs aren't the same everywhere. Many countries have their own distinct ways of marking this spooky season. From jack-o’-lanterns carved from turnips to pumpkins filled with alcohol, the world offers some truly unique Halloween traditions. Here's a look at a few of the most intriguing.
10. From Cabbage-Throwing to Devil's Night
About 2,000 years ago, the Celts in Britain and France ushered in the New Year on November 1, signaling the end of the harvest season. They believed that on this day, the spirits of the dead would return to Earth and walk among the living. To celebrate this eerie occurrence, they held a festival called Samhain, where locals took part in strange rituals.
One of the lesser-known customs involved the simple cabbage. On October 30, young girls would dig up the vegetable and use it to predict the qualities of their future husbands. The cabbages were also used in pranks, thrown at neighbors as part of a mischievous tradition called Cabbage Night, which originated in Scotland and Ireland.
Irish and Scottish immigrants eventually brought this tradition to the United States, where it took root in parts of the Northeast. These vegetable-themed pranks spread under various names, such as Mischief Night, Devil's Night, Mat Night (stealing doormats), and Gate Night (releasing livestock).
Today, most Halloween pranks are relatively harmless (though still bothersome for the victims). You might encounter toilet-papered trees, flaming bags of dog poop, and egg-splattered homes. However, Mischief Night and Devil's Night have also been linked to more serious criminal activities.
In the mid-1980s, Detroit gangs were notorious for setting hundreds of cars ablaze on Devil's Night. In 1991, Mischief Night brought chaos to Camden, New Jersey, with the Camden Fire Department facing an overwhelming number of arson incidents. That day became the busiest in the department's history, with a staggering 133 fire calls. Thick smoke reportedly lingered in the air for hours.
9. Turnips and the Tale of Stingy Jack
The jack-o’-lantern stands as one of Halloween's most recognizable symbols. But why do we continue to carry hollowed-out fruits on October 31st? To uncover the reason, we look to the Legend of Stingy Jack.
The Legend of Stingy Jack (also known as Jack of the Lantern) is an Irish story about a miserly swindler. Jack was notorious for his excessive drinking and manipulative ways. One day, the Devil decided to claim Jack’s soul. Realizing the Devil’s intentions, Jack asked for one final drink, which Satan agreed to. They went to a pub, but neither could pay for the drinks. Jack convinced the Devil to turn into a coin so they could settle the bill. The Devil complied, and Jack placed the coin next to a cross, trapping Satan. Unable to escape, the Devil agreed to spare Jack’s soul for ten years in exchange for his freedom.
Ten years later, Satan returned to claim Jack's soul, now aged and frail. Jack, ever the trickster, asked the Devil to retrieve an apple from a tree. The Devil, not the brightest, climbed the tree. Jack then carved a cross in the tree’s bark, trapping the Devil once again. Humiliated, Satan vowed not to take Jack's soul. When Jack eventually passed away, neither Heaven nor Hell would accept him. In mockery, the Devil handed Jack a single glowing ember. Jack placed the ember inside a turnip, creating a lantern. It’s said that Jack’s wandering soul roams the underworld forever, guided only by his turnip lantern.
The Irish originally used hollowed-out turnips to ward off Jack’s ghost. However, when Irish immigrants came to the United States, they found it easier to carve pumpkins for the lanterns.
Turnip carving is still practiced today, especially in parts of Scotland. In 2015, the UK faced a period of heavy rain, which severely impacted the availability of pumpkins. As a result, the English Heritage charity began using turnips to decorate its sites and encouraged others to do the same.
8. Soul Cakes
During the Middle Ages, the British baked soul cakes as a way to honor the deceased. These delicious treats were typically flavored with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and saffron, and often featured raisin toppings arranged in the shape of a cross.
At Hallowtide, it was customary for beggars and young children to go door-to-door, praying for the souls of their departed loved ones. Drawing inspiration from the pagan Samhain folk plays, the children would sing special souling songs. In return, these ‘soulers’ were given soul cakes and other treats as rewards.
While soul cakes have faded into obscurity in much of the Western world, the tradition is still observed in a few countries. Souling remains a custom in small communities across Britain, Portugal, and France. Thankfully, those with a love for baking can find a variety of soul cake recipes online.
7. Hags, Heads, and Animal Sacrifice
Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the onset of winter. It was believed that the veil between the living and the dead would thin, allowing spirits to return home. During this period, livestock were gathered and slaughtered, with their hides being transformed into costumes. Some superstitious locals wore these animal skins to disguise themselves and repel evil spirits, while others donned them to celebrate and welcome the dead’s return.
Samhain was also a time for young men to wear eerie costumes to trick other households. These sinister impersonators were used to deceive unsuspecting individuals into giving up their food and drink. In Wales, some Celtic men dressed as women, known as the hags. This practice is thought to have influenced the modern-day tradition of trick-or-treating and Halloween costumes.
The Celts celebrated with massive bonfires and made sacrifices to the gods. Animal hides and heads were worn as part of these ritualistic ceremonies. In recent years, concerns have arisen over potential animal sacrifices during Halloween. While there is no clear evidence of a significant rise in such practices, many animal shelters prevent the adoption of black cats around this time, to prevent them from being used in occult rituals. According to occult researcher Marcos Quinones, animal sacrifices occur in every US state, year-round.
6. The Day of the Skull
The Day of the Skull is a unique tradition observed in Bolivia. In the nation's capital, La Paz, residents gather and decorate the skulls of the deceased. These skulls, often passed down through generations, are adorned with hats, glasses, flowers, and coca leaves. Many people take the skulls, or natitas, from abandoned graves.
Outside of Bolivia, many consider this custom to be somewhat peculiar, including the Roman Catholic Church. Despite attempts by the Church to discourage Bolivians from keeping the skulls, the practice continues without being officially banned.
A week after All Saints' Day, locals flock to the General Cemetery in La Paz. Here, they participate in a service with their cherished skulls. Mariachi bands play lively tunes, and residents join in singing and dancing at the cemetery. Throughout the day, the skulls receive offerings of food, cigarettes, and prayers.
But why skulls? Many of Bolivia's poorer residents still hold onto superstitions, believing that seven souls reside within each person, with one soul residing in the skull. The natitas are viewed as amulets, providing protection and good fortune to their owners. This age-old practice is believed to help solve crimes and even assist young people in their university studies.
5. The Double Ninth Festival
According to legend, a man named Huan Jing saved his village from a deadly plague. A mysterious ‘river monster’ was said to be spreading the disease, taking villagers one by one. Huan Jing sought the wisdom of Fei Changfang, an immortal skilled in magic. On the eighth day of the ninth month in the lunar calendar, the villagers attempted to flee through a mountain pass. However, Changfang had a different plan. He instructed his apprentice to return to the village and mix chrysanthemum wine with dogwood leaves. The resulting scent confused the river monster long enough for Huan Jing to surprise and slay the beast. The plague was brought to an end on the ninth day, with Huan using Changfang’s sword to defeat the monster.
The Double Ninth Festival honors this legend and is celebrated across several parts of Asia, including China, Japan, and Vietnam. The festivities include drinking chrysanthemum tea, baking Double Ninth cakes, wearing dogwood-themed accessories, and hiking up mountains. In 2017, nearly 10,000 seniors hiked a mountain in Zhoushan city, Northeastern China.
The festival also serves as a time to honor the departed. Many families hold ceremonies, visit the graves of their loved ones, clean headstones, and offer tributes. Additionally, the day is used to honor the elderly. In 1989, the Chinese government officially declared the Double Ninth Festival as Seniors' Day. As a result, teachers now take students to retirement homes to spend time with senior citizens.
This year, the Double Ninth Festival was celebrated on October 17.
4. Night of the Pumpkins
In Spain, Halloween festivities unfold over three days: the Day of the Witches (October 31), All Saints’ Day (November 1), and the Day of the Dead (November 2). Many regions in Spain embrace traditions similar to those found in other Western countries, such as carving pumpkins and trick-or-treating. However, in the Galicia region of northwestern Spain, pumpkins are put to a unique use. October 31 is celebrated as the Night of the Pumpkins (Noite dos Calacus).
In Galicia, the tradition involves filling hollowed-out pumpkins with a potent drink called queimada. This alcoholic punch combines coffee beans, orange peel, cinnamon, and liquor. The mixture is then set on fire, with the brewer ladling the blazing drink into the air to create streams of flame. As the concoction is brewed, a spell is recited. Copies of this incantation are often displayed in local taverns. Queimada is believed to drive away demons and spirits while purifying those who drink it.
The full ritual can be seen above.
3. Kite Flying (But Spookier)
It may seem strange to link kites with the afterlife, but in Guatemala, the connection is strong. Each year, on November 1st, the people of Sumpango and Santiago celebrate their famous kite festival. Skilled kite makers dedicate months to crafting intricate and vibrant designs. Many of these bamboo-framed kites are colossal, with some reaching up to 12 meters (40 ft) in length.
The giant kites of Guatemala were originally created to ward off evil spirits. The rustling of the tissue paper was believed to frighten the spirits away. Today, however, these magnificent kites are mainly used to honor the departed.
Known as the Festival of the Giant Kite (Feria del Barrilete Gigante), the kites are flown over the cemeteries where locals gather to pay their respects and make offerings. The festival serves a dual purpose. While it honors the deceased, many kite makers in Sumpango also use the occasion to send political messages. These kites often display slogans criticizing government policies or advocating for peace. Some kites even feature personal messages attached to their tails, which are sent up to the spirits above.
2. Bread of the Dead
Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is a major holiday in Mexico, celebrated from October 31 to November 2. This event is dedicated to honoring the departed, with families visiting the graves of their ancestors to offer their respects.
During the holiday, children are encouraged to create altars, known as ofrendas, in order to welcome the spirits back. It is believed that spirits of children return on November 1, the Day of the Innocents, and those of adults return the following day. These altars, placed near graves, are adorned with marigolds, food offerings, photographs, and sentimental family objects, while incense is used to cleanse the gravestones.
A variety of special foods are prepared for this occasion, including 'pan de muerto' (bread of the dead) and sugar skulls. The bread of the dead is a sweet, circular loaf often decorated with patterns resembling skulls and bones, with a symbolic teardrop shape representing the sorrow of losing a loved one.
A similar tradition can be found in Southern Europe. In Italy, the Day of the Dead is marked by the creation of 'fave dei morti' (beans of the dead), which are almond-flavored cookies shaped to resemble fava beans. The symbolism of the fava bean comes from ancient Rome, where it was believed that the souls of the deceased resided within beans. In Pythagorean philosophy, the hollow stem of the bean plant was thought to serve as a ladder between the world of the living and the afterlife.
1. Allhelgonadagen
Allhelgonadagen, the Swedish version of All Saints’ Day, was initially observed on November 1. However, in 1953, the holiday was shifted to the Saturday falling between October 31 and November 6. Similar to customs in many Latin American countries, the Swedish observe this day by visiting the graves of their loved ones, laying flowers, wreaths, and lighting lanterns and candles. At night, cemeteries become a mesmerizing spectacle, bathed in light as families honor the deceased.
American Halloween traditions began to appear in Sweden in 1982. The owner of a party store named Butterick’s imported Halloween decorations from the U.S. In an interview, Managing Director Bengt Olander admitted that he only decided to sell these items to please his American wife, who had been urging him for years. Fortunately, Olander’s decision paid off as the Halloween decorations quickly became popular, helping to establish his Stockholm store's reputation.
Olander found himself embracing Halloween once again when his ten-year-old daughter requested a jack-o’-lantern. Due to the scarcity of pumpkins in Sweden, the devoted father decided to help her grow her own by designing a small plot for her to cultivate gourds.
