Rooted in Celtic traditions and the transition from Autumn to Winter, the concept of Halloween has grown and taken root globally, with new twists and turns to the story as you journey across countries and cultures.
While the cogs of the marketing machine turned in America to bring a Halloween of candy and costumes, the names and celebrations associated with this time of year are diverse and far-reaching.
However, the idea that different countries have their own versions of ‘Halloween’ is far too simplistic. Depending on where you are in the world, you’re likely to find ceremonies and celebrations that touch on similar themes, but carry different origins, traditions and tones altogether…
2CGEHTX // Carrying a big halloween pumpkin on a country road at sunset. // Silvia Cozzi
Ireland: Samhain
The birthplace of Halloween, Ireland, still maintains many traditional practices passed down through history. Samhain, the Celtic pagan festival that inspired Halloween, marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter.
Held around the halfway point of the autumnal equinox and winter solstice, it’s a time that’s intricately woven into Irish folklore and mythology where the veil between realms is believed to be thin.
With visitors from Otherworld seeking hospitality and spirits or fairies more likely to cross over, bonfires are lit and costumes harking back to days of mumming and guising are worn to ward off more malevolent entities.
To further protect themselves from haunting spectres, terrifying faces were once carved into turnips and other root vegetables from the harvest, predating the pumpkin jack-o’-lanterns more common today.
Japan: Obon Festival
Bearing some similarities to the Western tradition of Halloween but a distinctive Japanese Buddhist festival with over 500 years of history, Obon (お盆 or Bon 盆) has its own deep significance and influence.
A meditative period of three days in August to honour one’s ancestors, many Japanese believe in the homecoming of spirits during this time. As to the origins of this holiday? According to legend, one of Buddha’s disciples once had a vision of his dead mother who appeared trapped in the Realm of Hungry Ghosts. Through offerings made of food and drink, the disciple was able to free his mother’s spirit from any further suffering.
To light the way today, ceremonial lanterns can be seen along rivers to guide the spirits of the departed back to the world of the living. The graves of ancestors are also tidied, with offerings left at Buddhist shrines.
Characteristically, the associated celebrations are serene and contemplative, reflecting the importance of family and ancestral ties.
India: Pitru Paksha
For Hindus, Pitru Paksha(ǰShraddh Paksha) marks sixteen days of worship in the religious calendar held from Bhdrapada Purnima Tithi in September or October.
The belief is that three generations of ancestors remain in a realm known as Pitriloka and for the duration of Pitru Paksha, they are freed by the god of death (Yamraja or Yama) to visit their relations and accept food, water, and other gifts.
During this time, respects are paid to deceased ancestors, and offerings are made by families to ensure the souls’ passage towards peace in the afterlife.
An occasion that’s solemn and introspective, this event highlights generations of ancestral connections.
When considering the pagan Celtic rituals of All Hallow’s Eve, there are some similarities with Pitru Paksha, mostly around the offerings of food and the use of light to appease the spirits.
Mexico: Día de los Muertos
Halloween intertwines with Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and it’s important to note that this is in no way the Mexican equivalent of Halloween. Rather, Día de los Muertos takes place November 1st and November 2nd and is a riotous celebration of life, love, and death.
The holiday dates back thousands of years with ties to the Aztec, Toltec, and other Nahua people who saw the dead not as gone and something to mourn, but as part of the community on a continuum.
Día de los Muertos combines elements of pre-Hispanic religion and Christianity – enacted through vibrant, richly decorative celebrations and traditions imbued with meaning. Ofrendas (altars) laid with marigold flowers, sugar skulls, and the favourite foods and drinks of the departed are just some of the ways in which the occasion is marked.
A theme seen in other parts of the world, it’s a time for reflection, memory-sharing, and profound joy, emphasising the belief that death is a natural part of the human experience and should not be feared.
Philippines: Pangangaluluwa
Pangangaluluwa is a Filipino tradition that takes place during the evening of All Saints’ Day (November 1st) and All Souls’ Day (November 2nd), which are important dates in the Philippine Catholic calendar, dedicated to honouring and remembering deceased loved ones.
As we’ve seen, holidays like Halloween are often deeply rooted in spirituality and superstition. The customs around Pangangaluluwa serve to emphasise the cultural ties between the Philippines and the influence of the Catholic faith.
Traditionally, groups in supernatural costumes visit homes and communities, singing or chanting to convey messages of remembrance for the souls of the departed. A small bamboo or wooden pole called a ‘pamalô’ may also be carried, decorated with leaves and flowers. In return for the performance, those visited offer prayers, blessings, and small gifts.
With urbanisation and modernisation, more rural and traditional customs have diminished or evolved into versions of trick-or-treating and other more Western observations. Nonetheless, many Filipinos still uphold the essence of Pangangaluluwa as a way to foster a strong sense of community and connection between the living and the deceased.
Through exploring Halloween and similar customs around the world, you can find common threads of spirituality, family, and community, transcending geographical boundaries and cultural differences. These traditions remind us that, regardless of our backgrounds, we share a fundamental appreciation of the interconnectedness of past and present, life and death. Our world is enriched by the countless ways we honour those who have come before us and embrace the mysteries of life and beyond.