Read about Halloween, its history and how it is celebrated in different parts of the world.

Fundoo Times: Festivals: Halloween

Halloween Around the World

What is Halloween?

Halloween is the day to honor all the departed souls. It concentrates more on the capers played by young people where they usually dress themselves as harmful spirits or other scary apparitions. People wear the costumes of harmful spirits to guard themselves and to avoid damage.

Origin of Halloween

Halloween has its roots in Celtic, Samhain and Christian background. The festival got its name in the 16th Century and represents a Scottish version of the All Hallows Eve. It initially originated in Ireland. Gradually Roman Catholics, Episcopalians and Lutherians used to started to observe Halloween.

Ways to Celebrate Halloween

Halloween is generally celebrated in different ways. The activities include playing tricks and pranks, making tours by wearing scary costumes, dancing and jumping around bonfires, having costume parties, conducting "haunted house" tours, carving pumpkins which are called Jack-o'-lanterns and reading or watching scary stories/movies, decorations based on imagery of death and the supernatural etc. It is mainly celebrated in most of the western countries like Ireland, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and Sweden. Two decades ago it was considered as holiday for children and they would have an amusing time wearing scary costumes but now Halloween has become popular and is a lively occasion for people of all ages.

Also known as: Halloween, All Hallows Eve, Samhain, Samhuinn and Teng Chieh.

Halloween Celebrations around the world:
Halloween in Australia
Halloween in Canada
Halloween in China
Halloween in Germany
Halloween in Ireland
Halloween in Scotland
Halloween in United Kingdom
Halloween in United States