Spirited Traditions Around The World

While Halloween brings out images of candy and costumes around the US.  The holiday looks different across the globe.  Countries around the world have their own unique traditions.

Mexico
While children also go trick-or-treating on Oct. 31.  It is a primer of another celebration - Dia de los Muertos.  Which is a celebration allowing the spirit of a deceased loved one to reunite with their still-living family.

England
British citizens celebrate the failed assassination of King James I by Guy Fawkes and other participants in the plot.  Because Fawkes attempted to kill the king with barrels of gunpowder — before being found by the authorities and being sentenced to death — the holiday is celebrated with bonfires across the country. And instead of trick-or-treating for candy, children will walk around asking for a "penny for the Guy."

Italy
Italians celebrate Ognissanti, or "all saints," a festival with deep religious undertones. While it's common to see Italian holidays dedicated to a specific saint, this holiday is dedicated to all of the saints as a whole.

Guatemala
Guatemalans also honor the dead during the first couple days of November. During the Barriletes Gigantes, or "giant kites" festival, Guatemalans populate the sky with massive, colorful kites.
The kites — which can go up to 40 feet in the air — are often hand-painted, and flown over the graves of loved ones who have passed away. The kites are said to represent a bridge between the living and the dead.

Japan
Halloween is a new holiday in Japan and the country is embracing the Western tradition and adding its own influence. Because there are other holidays in Japan meant for celebrating the deceased, including Obon, trick or treating isn't as popular.
Instead, Halloween in Japan is all about the costumes. Celebrators, who are normally adults, will don costumes and head to parties and clubs instead

Ireland
It's an understatement to say that Halloween is a big deal in Ireland: it's where the celebration began in the first place. Halloween as it is known today originated from the ancient festival of Samhain, which celebrated the beginning of winter in pagan Ireland more than 2,000 years ago.

China
In China, the Qingming festival, which is celebrated at the beginning of April, is the holiday reserved for celebrating the deceased. The event, which is also known as Tomb Sweeping Day, draws Chinese people to literally sweep — and clean — the tombs of loved ones. The act is considered to be one of the most respectful acts one can take to honor the deceased.

Fox Travel

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