Halloween In Foreign Countries

By Emmy Nutting

Austria• On Halloween night, some people leave bread and water

• They left lamps and candles burning

• This was because they thought items like these would guide the souls

• They believed Halloween night was full of Cosmic Energy

Belgium• On Halloween Night, Belgium families light candles in memory of

dead family members

Canada

• In Canada they carve Jack-o-Lanterns out of pumpkins• Canadians throw parties• They go Trick Or Treating• People decorate their houses with

1. Corn Stalks2. Pumpkins

China• In China, Halloween is called Teng Chieh• They place food and drink in front of pictures of the dead• Bonfires and lanterns are lit to light the paths of spirits• Buddhist worshipers make paper boats and burn them• These boats can be either VERY LARGE or very small

• They are created to bring “Pretas” to heaven• Pretas are spirits of the dead who died in an accident whose bodies never were buried• They were believed to be very dangerous• The Buddhist worshipers and monks carried out ceremonies including

1. Lighting lanterns2. Reciting sacred verses3. Supplying fruit

England: Traditions

• People living in England made “Punkies”• Punkies were made out of beetroots• On Halloween night, children carried around their punkies• At each house the children asked for money• They ran through the streets singing the “Punkie Night” song*

*See the Punkie Night song on the next slide

England: Punkie Night Song

It's Punkie Night TonightIt's Punkie Night Tonight

Give us a Candle, give us a lightIt's Punkie Night Tonight

It's Punkie Night TonightIt's Punkie Night Tonight

Adam and Eve won't believeIt's Punkie Night Tonight

It's Punkie Night TonightIt's Punkie Night Tonight

Eee-i diddley-diIt's Punkie Night Tonight

France and Germany

• Was considered an American holiday and was not celebrated in France until around 1996

• Germans put away all of their knives, in fear of the spirits

Hong Kong

• Halloween is known in Hong Kong as Yue Lan, or Festival of the Hungry Ghosts• It was believed that ghosts roamed the Earth for 24 hours• Some people burn fruit and money to bring comfort to the ghosts

Ireland

• Ireland is believed to be the birthplace of Halloween• They “Knock-a-Dolly” by ringing a doorbell and running away before its

opened• Irish people dress up and Trick-or-Treat• After Trick-or-Treating they go to parties

• They play Snap-Apple*• Parents arrange treasure hunts for the kids• The Irish play a card game where they draw a card and get what’s on it• They eat Barnbrack, which is a special fruitcake

• Occasionally they hide rings and straw in the cakes• Ring= Finder will soon be married• Straw= prosperous year approaching

*They hang an apple to a tree and try to bite it

Japan

• Japanese call Halloween Obon Festival, Matsuri, Urabon• Dedicated to the spirits to the spirits of ancestors• Red lanterns are hung everywhere• Special foods are prepared• Candles are lit and put in lanterns and set out to sea and on rivers• A fire is lit each night for the ancestors• Memorial stones are cleaned• Community dances are preformed

Korea

• Known as Chusok• Families thanked ancestors • Make offerings of rice and fruit

Mexico, Latin America, and Spain• Halloween is known as El Dia de los Muertos• It is a time to remember friends and family who had died• Families construct an altar to honor the dead• It frequently had candy, flowers, photographs, water and the

deceased’s favorite food and drink• Flowers, streamers and wreaths are draped on graves• In Mexico, monarch butterflies return and are believed that they were the spirits of dead ancestors

Sources

• http://www.wyrdwords.vispa.com/halloween/punky/punkysong.html• http://www.weirdlyodd.com

/top-10-odd-halloween-traditions-around-the-world/• http://www.novareinna.com/festive/world.html