By Ella, 14, Harrison, 13, Meg, 13, Lia, 11, and Daniel, 11.
Halloween is an event celebrated by lots of people across the world, with many different traditions in different countries.
Halloween is set halfway between the Autumn Equinox, which is 22nd September, and the Winter Solstice on 21st December.
22 Centuries before, the Celts practiced Samhain in Ireland and Wales, celebrating the end of the Harvest Season and marking the beginning of the Celtic year.
On the 31st October, which is the eve of All Saint’s Day, a Christian holiday honouring those who have died, Halloween is celebrated in many countries.
Hallowhen
In the past, ancient traditions included bonfires, feasting and witches’ spells.
Guising, which is the predecessor to trick or treating, and still practiced in Ireland, is where children wear ‘disguises’ and visit the houses of the town to earn prizes; such as coins, fruit, and nuts.
Jack-O-Lanterns were originally made from turnips, which were carved to warn off Stingy Jack, an 17th Century Irish myth who was forced to roam the earth with a glowing ember, which he placed into a carved-out turnip. Pumpkins are a more modern tradition, starting with Irish immigrants to America making use of the native grown vegetables.
Hallowhere
In the modern day, there are several cultural deviations from the original practices. Across the globe, countries have branched out their spooky traditions to fit norms and expectations.
Halloween is the most popular in the USA, where it is widely celebrated by both adults and children. It has been mass industrialised to fit Western capitalism and become profitable. The facts don’t lie: 94% of Americans celebrate Halloween, and 97% give out sweets!
In the UK, we don’t have such enthusiasm for Spooky Month, having an audience mainly built up of younger children and partygoers alike. However, this event may be overshadowed by Bonfire Night on 5th November.
Over in Poland, the equivalent is called Dziady, which is an ancient Slavic tradition featuring rituals and customs dedicated to the spirits of dead relatives and friends. However, the youth of Poland will also celebrate the Western traditions alongside this.
Mexico probably has one of the more famous celebrations, Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. This is a time where the spiritual barriers between the dead and living are thinner, so celebrators use this time to hold meals honouring their deceased family members. Other traditions include decorating homes and dressing up.
In Japan on the other hand, Halloween festivities are reduced for adults attending clubs and parties in fancy dress. This is due to the conservative and reserved nature of the Japanese culture.
So, after you go “guising,” painting skulls or carving turnips this year, remember the historic ancestry that fills our lives. Our global diversity makes us a better world, so many changes have populated each generation. Share these facts with your Halloween buddies and consider: What could be the change in your Halloween traditions?
This was created by young people as part of the Headliners Young Journalist programme. This project was made possible by the Million Hours Fund.
