Happy Halloween from GHF! With this spooky holiday fast approaching, learn the fascinating history of Halloween traditions and how different cultures around the world celebrate ancestors and spirits.
Holidays are important ways that communities celebrate their histories and forge bonds. Through traditional celebrations, we establish connections between past, current, and future generations. With Halloween fast approaching, many of us are preparing costumes and stocking up on candy to appease eager trick-or-treaters. But have you ever wondered about the origins of this popular holiday?
Halloween has taken many forms throughout the years. Originally known as Samhain, Halloween was celebrated by Celtic communities over 2,000 years ago as the transition from the light half to the dark half of the year. Due to the spread of the Roman Empire and papal actions, Samhain was eventually observed on November 1 and began to be called All-Hallows Eve — which later became Halloween.
Halloween arrived in America largely thanks to emigration from Europe during the second half of the nineteenth century. As the celebrations grew popular throughout the nation, Americans began to don costumes and visit neighbors in an early version of today’s “trick-or-treating.” By the beginning of the twentieth century, Halloween began to focus on community gatherings. Today, it’s mostly celebrated through costume parties and massive candy consumption — a far cry from its Celtic origins.
How do other holidays throughout the world celebrate ancestors and spirits? Although they’re different from Halloween, the following traditions remember past generations and celebrate ancestors.
All Souls Day: Celebrated on November 2, All Souls’ Day is a time to remember deceased loved ones and honor their memories. Celebrations take different forms depending on the country and region. For example, families in Italy set empty places at their tables for deceased relatives, while Polish families gather to pay their respects by caring for family graves.
Pchum Ben: The Cambodian festival of Pchum Ben occurs in the Khmer month Pheakta Bot, typically during September and October. Monks chant sutras while people make offerings to temples and deceased relatives.
Día de los Muertos: In Mexico and the Americas, the Day of the Dead is a multi-day celebration of ancestors and past generations. Many people build private altars and offer flowers, food, and beverages to deceased loved ones.
Ghost Festival: Also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, China’s 2,000-year-old Ghost Festival is typically held in August on the 15th night of the lunar calendar’s seventh month. Prayers and offerings are made for deceased relatives and ancestral spirits.
Obon: In Japan, the Buddhist festival of Obon is typically celebrated in July or August. Lanterns are hung to guide spirits, traditional dances are performed, and offerings are made at private altars and temples.
Gai Jatra: The Gai Jatra festival in Nepal occurs on the first day of the Bhadra month according to the lunar calendar. Families who lost a relative during the past year walk through the streets of Kathmandu leading a cow — and if no cow is available, a child dressed as a cow is frequently substituted.
These are just a few of the many varied traditions and holidays found throughout the world. How do you celebrate your relatives and ancestors?
Sources:
https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/halloween-owes-its-tricks-and-treats-celtic-new-years-eve-180960944/
https://www.thelocal.it/20171102/italy-all-souls-day-traditions
https://culture.pl/en/article/all-souls-day-the-tradition-of-zaduszki-in-poland
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/background-history-pchum-ben
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/north-america/mexico/top-ten-day-of-dead-mexico/
https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2160024/singapores-hungry-ghost-festival-what-do-lion-city-during
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2286.html
https://www.welcomenepal.com/whats-on/gai-jatra.html