When is Halloween celebrated: what traditions do different countries have on the most mystical day of the year?

Halloween is the most mysterious and mystical holiday of the year. Its history dates back to Celtic times. Later, the traditions gained wide popularity in the United States, and in the late 1990s, Halloween began to be celebrated in Ukraine.

Halloween is celebrated on the night of October 31 to November 1. Read about the history of the holiday and traditions in different countries in the OBOZ.UA article.

What does Halloween mean?

Historians have found the first mention of the word "Halloween," and it dates back to the 16th century as a Scottish abbreviation of the English phrase "All Hallows Even," that is, "All Saints' Eve."

In general, Halloween has its roots in the pre-Christian period, when the ancient Celts lived in what is now Scotland and Ireland. The progenitor of the modern Halloween was called Samhain, a holiday in honor of the end of the harvest, when people expressed gratitude to the gods and asked for protection during the winter cold.

It has long been customary to honor ancestors on Halloween. Many peoples have legends that it was on this night that the souls of the deceased returned to earth to see their loved ones once again. And along with the souls came all kinds of evil spirits from the other world. That is why people dressed up as different monsters to deceive evil spirits with this disguise.

Why Halloween falls on November 1

The Celts divided the year into two parts: the first - warm, good, light - lasted from May to October, and the second - cold and evil - from November to April.

Therefore, the night of November 1 was considered the boundary between the two worlds. According to the Celts, on Halloween night, evil descended to the earth, and on the night of May 1, good returned.

Halloween lost its mystical and eerie meaning in the early twentieth century. Nowadays, for most people, it is a joyful and fun holiday with entertainment, candy, and pumpkins.

How Halloween is celebrated in other countries

Ireland is considered the birthplace of Halloween. It is said that the tradition of collecting treats and treating children with candy, sweets, and fruits originated here. A special dish called colcannon, made from boiled potatoes, onions, and cabbage, should be on the table. An apple pie is also a must. In Ireland, particularly in Dublin, it is always crowded on Halloween, as tourists from all over the world come here. Derry celebrates Halloween on the biggest scale, with events lasting as long as 9 days and thousands of tourists dressing up as various mystical creatures.

On October 31, various festivals, costume contests, themed concerts, joint screenings of horror movies, etc. are held around the world.

In Germany, the best celebration is a visit to Frankenstein's castle. It's a pretty spooky tour where you can sit in the electric chair and even put your head on the guillotine.

The largest film festival dedicated to Halloween is held annually in Finland. During the Night Vision period, all cinemas show only horror movies. In Helsinki, Halloween begins on October 31 and lasts for several days.

Halloween is also very popular in the UK. You can read about the traditions of the celebration in Agatha Christie's book Halloween Party, where a gruesome murder takes place during the Halloween celebration. British children dress up as different monsters, walk around with pumpkins in their hands and decorate the streets with them. In London, on the night of November 1, they organize excursions to cemeteries, telling scary legends.

Halloween is perhaps the most popular in the United States. Children dress up in various costumes, go from house to house and shout "trick or treat," after which they are given candy and other sweets in their baskets. At the beginning of October, a special atmosphere reigns in the United States, as houses begin to be decorated with various decorations in honor of the holiday.

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