Halloween is one of my favourite celebrations of the year, simply because I have a brilliant excuse to eat an awful number of sweets and insist on watching the scariest horror movies and freak myself out until I physically cannot sleep. This year, you may have gone to parties, got your creative juices flowing with costumes (even a pirate, which seemed to be rather popular) and had fun with friends and family with decorations, music and the outrageous amount of fake blood. The traditionally Celtic festival of Samhain is celebrated all over the world, in various ways and at different times, yet one thing they have in common is honouring or remembering the dead. So here is a quick international tour of five unique and spooky celebrations/traditions:
Italy – La Festa di Ognissanti
La Festa di Ognissanti spreads out from the 31st of October to 2nd of November, celebrating whilst reflecting throughout. November 1st, referred to as Saints Day, is a time to honour Catholic Saints in a midday mass, colourful processions and spending time with family (not to forget the exchanging of various gifts). This day is followed by “Souls Day” which commemorates lost loved ones by decorating graves with beautiful chrysanthemums and attending requiem mass. Food from all parts of Italy is an extremely important part of these couple of days (sounds like my kind of celebration), especially Fave dei morti (translated as ‘beans of the dead’) which is offered to the deceased spirits who are believed to be present. And of course, sweets and luxury feasts are enjoyed throughout, making this event a dominant part of Italian culture.
Guatemala – Barriletes Gigantes
I am sure the linguists amongst you won’t find it hard to translate this festival into ‘the Giant Kites’. Not exactly spooky or Halloween-y, this event takes place in Guatemala, as part of a Mayan custom, to honour the dead. Brightly coloured kites are built from natural materials and hand-painted to be flown in cemeteries and parks with family and friends. Heavy kites are made up of bamboo, cloth and paper – unfortunately my skills do not meet the criteria to create such beautiful kites – that are symbolic and tied to Mayan identity. Usually, these kites portray family stories and cultural themes that promote peace and community, making it an eventful time for all.
China – Hungry Ghost Festival
Yes, the title does do justice to this spooky event in China, which is a month-long tradition that pays respect to the spirits of the deceased as well as worshipping ancestors with celebrations (e.g. Chinese opera on bamboo stages, distribution of food such as rice etc.). It usually occurs on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month (in the Western calendar, this is in July/August) and has a widespread belief that ghosts return to haunt the living. Many fearful Chinese burn make-believe paper money and light incense to sooth wandering spirits. They feed restless spirits to avoid their wrath, and advice given to citizens are to avoid being alone at night, in case they are attacked by an enemy spirit…
Nigeria – Awuuro Odo Festival
This celebration is part of the Igbo culture – Nigeria’s oldest tribe – that is usually hosted in April every two years (when spirits are expected to return to Earth to visit their families). It consists of feasts, music, singing and dancing with huge parades and colourful masks. Cleansing rituals are also prevalent, as well as the famous Odo Play. This performance re-enacts the end of the Odo’s (spirits of the dead) stay on earth; including their arrival, stay with the living and journey back to the land of the dead. Dramatic presentations are created, with engaged audiences participating.
Nepal – Gai Jatra
This is, extraordinarily, known as the festival of cows when dead family members are commemorated. Food hampers are distributed to family and friends whilst cows are being marched onto streets, since they are symbolic (being sacred in Hinduism) and are hence believed to bring the deceased good fortune in heaven. Many may think this is quite random, yet it is based on the myth of King Pratap Malla – King of Nepal in ancient times. When one of his sons died, the King’s wife needed cheering up as she wasn’t able to handle the tragic loss. Therefore, the King decided to try and make her smile by bringing everyone together to dress funnily and bring cows in a procession. His wife felt much better, and laughed at this strange turn of events – which is why this is continued today as a “silly” festival that everyone participates in.
It is so crucial to acknowledge that, whilst Halloween may be sweets and movies for us, its origins spread out all over the world where different cultures have different ways to remember the dead and reflect on lost loved ones. Whether it be solemn and beautiful ceremonies, or animated and bright parades, these traditions are truly unique in their own ways.
