Halloween is just around the corner. Want to do something special for the spookiest time of the year? Why not join a place where people are looking forward to the night of October 31 with great anticipation and prepare colorful and spooky events! This is an opportunity to realize that not only is this celebration popular all over the world, but also that many countries have adapted it to their culture and customs. The Little Witty has prepared a list of destinations where Halloween has some memorable surprises in store for you.
Ireland, where it all began
Halloween has its origins in the Irish festival of Samain. Celebrating it on this island has that little bit of soul that you can't find anywhere else. As in the past, the Irish dress up in their best costumes and gather around large bonfires to ward off evil spirits. Pumpkins are placed everywhere, in reference to the legend of Jack O'Lantern, and children ring the doorbells to the sound of the inevitable "Trick or Treat".
Flying to Ireland to celebrate Halloween is an opportunity to sample regional specialties, attend festivals and discover the many legends of mysterious places. In Athboy and Trim, County Meath, the Púca Festival is a must-see event with haunted castle tours, spooky stories, concerts and other entertainment. In Derry, Northern Ireland, the walled city is also planning a shaking carnival and plenty of other festivities.
Mexico and the Day of the Dead celebration
How about a trip to Latin America to celebrate Halloween? In this neighboring country of the United States, life and death are also honored, but under the name of Día de los Muertos. This holiday, which is a blend of Catholic and pre-Hispanic traditions, has been celebrated there for over 3,000 years. The belief is that on the days of November1 and 2, the dead come to visit the living. To please the deceased, homes and public buildings make altars where they place flowers, candles, photos and offerings with chocolates, cakes, candies and fruits. In the streets, there are processions, concerts and a multitude of festivities. People dress up, especially Mexican women as the skeleton woman "La Catrina", one of the symbols of Día de Los Muertos. A highlight of this annual event is the gathering of families in cemeteries and at the graves of their deceased to celebrate, drink, sing and dance.
In Mexico, all cities celebrate Día de Los Muertos. The experience is sensational in Oaxaca, the cultural capital of the country.
Romania, on the trail of the vampires
One of the best places to celebrate Halloween in Europe remains the land of the terrible Count Dracula in Transylvania. The region of Romania has many events planned to make the day and evening of October 31 unforgettable. Vlad the Impaler's hometown, Sighisoara, decorates its streets in a macabre style. The medieval citadel is magnificent, and you can take the opportunity to discover the city's history museum, which has its own torture chamber. In the evening, you can sit down with vampire lovers to enjoy a good meal prepared for the occasion, before attending street shows and partying until the end of the night.
The surrounding castles also come alive with fairs and medieval festivals. Bran Castle, better known as Dracula's Castle, hosts a masked ball with mummies, witches, vampires and werewolves
USA and Canada, Halloween in grandiose mode
In the 19th century, the great famine due to the potato disease in Ireland caused many Irish people to leave for the United States. They took with them their traditions and legends, including those around the festival of Samain. The Americans have appropriated them and are now the country that celebrates Halloween in the most spectacular way in the world. For the occasion, houses are decorated to scare passers-by, with spider webs, pumpkins and scary characters. Children can join pumpkin patches and make their own Jack O'Lanterns to place inside and outside. On the night of October 31, they go out in costume and ring the doorbells of neighbors in their neighborhood to the sound of Trick or Treat. The goal is to come back with as much candy and treats as possible. It is also an opportunity for families and friends to get together and enjoy some spooky looking recipes.
In the United States, many events take place in the cities to celebrate Halloween as it should be. These include great parades, such as those in New York City and Anoka, Minnesota. In New Orleans, Louisiana, voodoo is in the spotlight. Houses are also carefully decorated, markets of strange objects are held and music floods the bars.
In Canada, Halloween was first celebrated in the 1970s. Since then, the country has adopted all the rituals found in the United States. Montreal, Quebec is a destination to celebrate Halloween. The city offers highlights such as the Zombie Walk and the Fright Festival at La Ronde Amusement Park. The park is totally transformed, with decorations and scary characters wandering the aisles. There are also haunted houses and activities on the theme of fear of course.
China, ahead of the ghosts
In China, the fifteenth day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar is called Ghost Day. Between mid-August and mid-September, during the month of Ghosts, Chinese tradition says that the spirits of hell are sent back to Earth and are likely to play evil tricks. To appease them, people prepare great feasts, burn incense, gather around impressive fires and hold events such as open-air operas and traditional plays. Hong Kong is one of the best destinations to celebrate the Ghost Festival.
