Halloween isn’t exactly an exclusive practice in the United States although its popularization generally came from there. There are several places where Halloween touched across history before the migrants to the American soil came after the potato famine in Europe. These countries include Ireland and the United Kingdom of Britain, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Still there are other countries that involve themselves in activities during October 31st, November 1st and 2nd out of religious obligation. This, of course, refers to the Catholics. The few practicing Spanish, Italian and French Catholics still go out on the second of November to commemorate the dead. Still, other countries in Latin America and Asia have their very own versions of Halloween. True enough, Halloween across the globe is an interesting topic to discover.
A run through Halloween across the globe should always start with the United States of America where the season is most alive due to its popularity. Halloween is generally celebrated on the 31st of October. During the Halloween season, whole shops and malls change their decorative motifs into a scary theme. This is also true in American homes where Jack O’Lanterns are made together with other ornaments. The American media, which projects Halloween across the globe, also take their cue in releasing horror movies, documentaries, reality shows and the like. The kids also enjoy several costume parties together with their trick or treat. For the adults, there are also social events available like concerts, cocktail and costume parties.
Halloween across the globe finds a similar atmosphere found in the United States in countries like Ireland and the United Kingdom where Halloween is said to have originated. In Ireland, there are still some people who seek to conserve their own cultural practices that they still follow what the old Druid religion of the Celts did during the change of their calendar on the 31st of October.
There, they dress up in costumes of ghouls, etc. that are all aimed at driving evil spirits away. What’s more is that they make bonfires and loud sounds to supplement their costumes. Since trick or treat originated in the indulgence practice of the old English Catholic days, it is also practiced in the United Kingdom.
It has to be noted that before Halloween across the globe became a popular holiday, the English beggars found a way to ask for soul cakes from house to house in exchange for their prayers for the dead. To add to these things, the costumes are more profound as Europe is home to a wider variety of legendary scare figures like vampires, witches, elves, etc.
Halloween across the globe finds its variety in Catholic developing world countries. There include the former colony of Spain namely Mexico and the Philippines. This is also true with the Portuguese former colony, Brazil. In Mexico, devoted Catholics go to the Churches to celebrate All Saint’s Day in November 1 and the following day, they go to the cemeteries to visit their dead. In the Philippines, there are also parties given the very westernized culture there yet, majority of the people still consider going to the cemeteries on either the 31st of October or the 1st of November as religious obligations.