Halloween Around the World

Halloween is one of the World’s oldest holidays. The name Halloween is a Scottish contraction, derived from the proper name “All Hallow’s Eve.” It was named such because it falls on the night before the Catholic “All Hallows” day, or, “All Hallowed Souls” day. Halloween is also known as the Day of the Dead. Throughout the world, many countries celebrate Halloween, each in their own unique ways.

Ireland:
Ireland has celebrated Halloween for centuries. It is said that the practice of carving and lighting Jack-o’-lanterns started there. A man named “Stingy Jack” was said to be too mean to be let into heaven, but because he played so many tricks on the devil, he was also not welcomed into the netherworld. With nowhere to go after he died, “Stingy Jack” was destined to walk the earth for all eternity carrying a carved-out turnip with a glowing lump of coal inside. Soon people began making their own Jack-o’-lanterns to sit in front windows and porches to scare away Stingy Jack’s ghost.

Japan:


In Japan, water and food is placed in front of a photo of the dead, then lanterns are lit and set afloat in the water or next to a body of water to light the way of the dead souls back to Earth and to show them where their families can be found. It is called the Obon Festival, and it is a celebration of the memory of the dead.

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