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Showing posts with label Ireland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ireland. Show all posts
Monday, March 1, 2010
Monday, October 12, 2009
Halloween Traditions from around the world
If you follow my blog—and I hope you have signed on by now—no doubt you are well aware of my love for traditions, legend and lore. I simply adore them and consider each new one a cherished treasure. Since the first of October, I’ve been posting tid bits about Halloween, superstitions and fun facts. Today, I am blogging about Halloween traditions from around the world. And today, I’ve decided to run a contest. And remember, you can go back to any and all posts starting on October 1 and continue through October 31st I will go through all comments and choose a winner. The winner will be announced on November 1st and will receive a Moonlight Past treat bag from Bath&Body. But in order to be entered in the contest, you must first sign up to follow my blog—and leave a comment. And remember, the more blogs you comment on, the better your chances are of winning the treat!
So here is how Halloween is celebrated around the world. Enjoy!
IRELAND
Thought to be where the holiday originated, in rural areas, it is celebrated with bonfires. Children dress up in costumes and go trick or treating in their neighborhood. This is followed by a party where the celebration continues with games and frolic and traditional food.
A game of snap-apples is a favorite. Apples are hung from tree limbs and children attempt to bite them. Door frames are also used. Another game is placing cards face down on a table. Beneath each is a coin or a candy and the child keeps what he or she finds. Barnbrack is eaten at parties, a type of cake. In the center of the cake is a muslin-wrapped trinket said to foresee the eater’s future. If a ring is found, a wedding will occur before year’s end. If a strip of straw, the year will be healthy, wealthy and wise! Rather than pumpkins, turnips are carved and carried around when trick or treating.
UNITED STATES
Carries on with the Celtic tradition. Children dress in costumes and trick or treat in their neighborhoods. The “Snap-apple” game has been changed to “Bobbing for apples” where apples must be retrieved from water. Jack-o-lanterns are carved out of the traditional pumpkin and homes are decorated with skeletons, ghosts and goblins. Candy corn and caramelized popcorn balls wrapped in festive colors are traditional in the US along with gingersnap cookies and hot apple cider with cinnamon sticks
AUSTRIA
Considers Halloween a magical night. But rather than dress up and trick or treat, some practice the tradition of leaving bread and water and a lighted lamp on the kitchen table to welcome the dead into the world for one evening
BELGIUM
Superstitious Belgiums believe it bad luck for a black cat to cross one’s path, enter a home or a ship! They light candles to welcome dead relatives to enter the home
CANADA
The Scottish and Irish brought the tradition of Halloween to Canada. Canadians carve faces out of jack-o-lanterns, the children dress and trick or treat and have parties. Doors are decorated with corn stalk, inviting children to knock for treats.
CHINA
The Chinese festival is called “Peng Chi” and is celebrated by placing food and water in front of photos of deceased loved ones. Bon fires are lit to light the way for the roaming spirits.
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
Chairs are placed before a roaring fire for each living family member and each deceased member
ENGLAND
Only in recent years has the American tradition been shared with the English. Children today, dress up and knock on doors for treats. But years ago, the festival was celebrated by children carving faces out of beets and walking through the streets with them while singing “The Pumpkie Night Song.” Other traditions included lighting a bonfire and pitching such things as nuts and stones in to the flames to frighten off the spirits. Some hung the carved out beet on gateposts to ward off evil spirits.
FRANCE
The French are only now beginning to celebrate the holiday. Still thought of as primarily an American holiday, some refuse to recognize the day. But due to their love of parties and masquerades, the French began a few decades ago to embark on the festivities. How they celebrate, however, greatly differs from the US and other countries. The French throw big costume parties at homes, halls and bars. And their costumes, both for the children and adult population, portray the gruesome as mummies, ghosts and vampires opposed to the pretty as Snow White or superheroes or cartoon characters. Another difference is children do not go from door to door in neighborhoods but from store to store in the village. Bakeries and candy shops have prepared special treats for the day. The pumpkin is not much grown in France and farms that harvest them flourish at this time.
Germany
The Germans put all knives away for twenty four hours because they fear spirits will return to use them on the living.
HONG KONG
Halloween in Hong Kong is known as “Yeu” Land of the Hungry Ghost. It is believed the spirits roam the earth for twenty-four hours. Some burn pictures of fruit or money , believing it will bring comfort to the spirits.
JAPAN
The day is referred to as the “Obon Festival” and honors deceased ancestors. Bright red lanterns are hung everywhere and special foods are prepared. Candles are set in lanterns and placed in rivers and seas where they float. In certain areas, the path from the grave to the home is swept to welcome the spirit and the house is thoroughly cleaned. Fires, bonfires and community dances are also part of the celebration.
KOREA
The Korean holiday is referred to as “Chusok” to honor the dead. Rice and fruit are taken to tombs and is celebrated in August.
SPAIN, MEXICO AND LATIN AMERICA
The holiday is referred to as “El Dia de los Muertos” and is a day of festivity to honor both the living and the dead. Sweet treats are made in the shape of skeletons and food and water is placed on tables for the spirits which are thought to return this festival. Dancing takes place and a live person is placed in the grave and carried through the streets. Tequila is drunk and the mariachi band plays, candy and skeletons are tossed in the casket.
IRELAND, SCOTLAND AND WALES
The Celtic holiday was originally celebrated to ward off evil spirits and to welcome the spirits of deceased loved ones home for twenty-four hours. While the names and traditions have changed through the years, the Celts believe in honoring the day. In Scotland and Wales, a ride on a ghost train or haunted train is taken when people dress in costumes and celebrate good times. Some of the traditions ncludes tossing nuts into a fire and cooking meat as a pig on an open fire. Pumpkins, beets and turnips are used as jack-o-lanterns.
Tell me your superstition. Don’t forget to sign up as a follower and you will be entered in the Halloween contest.
So here is how Halloween is celebrated around the world. Enjoy!
IRELAND
Thought to be where the holiday originated, in rural areas, it is celebrated with bonfires. Children dress up in costumes and go trick or treating in their neighborhood. This is followed by a party where the celebration continues with games and frolic and traditional food.
A game of snap-apples is a favorite. Apples are hung from tree limbs and children attempt to bite them. Door frames are also used. Another game is placing cards face down on a table. Beneath each is a coin or a candy and the child keeps what he or she finds. Barnbrack is eaten at parties, a type of cake. In the center of the cake is a muslin-wrapped trinket said to foresee the eater’s future. If a ring is found, a wedding will occur before year’s end. If a strip of straw, the year will be healthy, wealthy and wise! Rather than pumpkins, turnips are carved and carried around when trick or treating.
UNITED STATES
Carries on with the Celtic tradition. Children dress in costumes and trick or treat in their neighborhoods. The “Snap-apple” game has been changed to “Bobbing for apples” where apples must be retrieved from water. Jack-o-lanterns are carved out of the traditional pumpkin and homes are decorated with skeletons, ghosts and goblins. Candy corn and caramelized popcorn balls wrapped in festive colors are traditional in the US along with gingersnap cookies and hot apple cider with cinnamon sticks
AUSTRIA
Considers Halloween a magical night. But rather than dress up and trick or treat, some practice the tradition of leaving bread and water and a lighted lamp on the kitchen table to welcome the dead into the world for one evening
BELGIUM
Superstitious Belgiums believe it bad luck for a black cat to cross one’s path, enter a home or a ship! They light candles to welcome dead relatives to enter the home
CANADA
The Scottish and Irish brought the tradition of Halloween to Canada. Canadians carve faces out of jack-o-lanterns, the children dress and trick or treat and have parties. Doors are decorated with corn stalk, inviting children to knock for treats.
CHINA
The Chinese festival is called “Peng Chi” and is celebrated by placing food and water in front of photos of deceased loved ones. Bon fires are lit to light the way for the roaming spirits.
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
Chairs are placed before a roaring fire for each living family member and each deceased member
ENGLAND
Only in recent years has the American tradition been shared with the English. Children today, dress up and knock on doors for treats. But years ago, the festival was celebrated by children carving faces out of beets and walking through the streets with them while singing “The Pumpkie Night Song.” Other traditions included lighting a bonfire and pitching such things as nuts and stones in to the flames to frighten off the spirits. Some hung the carved out beet on gateposts to ward off evil spirits.
FRANCE
The French are only now beginning to celebrate the holiday. Still thought of as primarily an American holiday, some refuse to recognize the day. But due to their love of parties and masquerades, the French began a few decades ago to embark on the festivities. How they celebrate, however, greatly differs from the US and other countries. The French throw big costume parties at homes, halls and bars. And their costumes, both for the children and adult population, portray the gruesome as mummies, ghosts and vampires opposed to the pretty as Snow White or superheroes or cartoon characters. Another difference is children do not go from door to door in neighborhoods but from store to store in the village. Bakeries and candy shops have prepared special treats for the day. The pumpkin is not much grown in France and farms that harvest them flourish at this time.
Germany
The Germans put all knives away for twenty four hours because they fear spirits will return to use them on the living.
HONG KONG
Halloween in Hong Kong is known as “Yeu” Land of the Hungry Ghost. It is believed the spirits roam the earth for twenty-four hours. Some burn pictures of fruit or money , believing it will bring comfort to the spirits.
JAPAN
The day is referred to as the “Obon Festival” and honors deceased ancestors. Bright red lanterns are hung everywhere and special foods are prepared. Candles are set in lanterns and placed in rivers and seas where they float. In certain areas, the path from the grave to the home is swept to welcome the spirit and the house is thoroughly cleaned. Fires, bonfires and community dances are also part of the celebration.
KOREA
The Korean holiday is referred to as “Chusok” to honor the dead. Rice and fruit are taken to tombs and is celebrated in August.
SPAIN, MEXICO AND LATIN AMERICA
The holiday is referred to as “El Dia de los Muertos” and is a day of festivity to honor both the living and the dead. Sweet treats are made in the shape of skeletons and food and water is placed on tables for the spirits which are thought to return this festival. Dancing takes place and a live person is placed in the grave and carried through the streets. Tequila is drunk and the mariachi band plays, candy and skeletons are tossed in the casket.
IRELAND, SCOTLAND AND WALES
The Celtic holiday was originally celebrated to ward off evil spirits and to welcome the spirits of deceased loved ones home for twenty-four hours. While the names and traditions have changed through the years, the Celts believe in honoring the day. In Scotland and Wales, a ride on a ghost train or haunted train is taken when people dress in costumes and celebrate good times. Some of the traditions ncludes tossing nuts into a fire and cooking meat as a pig on an open fire. Pumpkins, beets and turnips are used as jack-o-lanterns.
Tell me your superstition. Don’t forget to sign up as a follower and you will be entered in the Halloween contest.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Halloween Superstitions
Here are some Halloween superstitions said to be derived from English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh folklore.
If you ring a bell on Halloween, you will scare evil spirits away
If a candle flame suddenly turns blue, a ghost is near
If you are out and about on Halloween night and hear footsteps behind you, do not turn around. But if you do, beware! If you meet the gaze of your follower, you will soon be joining the spirits!
If you see a spider on Halloween, it could be the spirit of a loved one who is watching you
All spirits in Purgatory are released and freed for forty-eight hours to roam the earth on Hallows Eve
Walk around your house on Halloween three times backward to ward off evil spirits
Some say if you capture a snail on Halloween and lock it in a flat dish, the following morning you will see the first letter of your sweetheart’s name in the slime
Some believe if a hoot owl swoops down on you on Hallows Eve, it’s coming to eat your soul. According to Celtic legend, if you turn your pockets inside out, the myth will be broken
In Britain, people believe the devil was a nut gatherer. At Halloween, nuts were used as magic charms.
If a girl puts the sprig of a rosemary herb and a silver sixpence beneath her pillow on Halloween night, she will see her future husband in a dream
In North America, it’s bad luck if a black cat crosses your path and good luck if a white cat crosses your path. In Britain, Ireland and Japan, it’s just the opposite!
To prevent evil spirits from entering your house on Halloween, bury animal bones or the picture of an animal near the doorway
A person born on Halloween can see and chat to spirits
A rural American superstition states children born on Halloween will be protected from spirits for life and given the gift of second sight
If you go to a crossroads on Halloween night and listen to the wind, you will learn all the things that will happen to you in the next twelve months
Peel an apple from top to bottom. The person with the longest peel will be assured the longest life
If you toss the peel of an apple over your right shoulder, the initial it forms when landing will be the initial of your soulmate
If a bat flies around your home three times, it is a death omen
In England, you are warned to not go hunting on Halloween night as you will injure a wandering spirit
An English tale warns to not look at your shadow on the eve of Halloween or you will be the next to haunt the graveyard
If bats come out before dark and fly around playfully, it is a sign of good weather to come
If a bat flies into your house, it is a sign perhaps a ghost let the bat in!
Have a Halloween superstition? I would love to hear it! Leave a comment
If you ring a bell on Halloween, you will scare evil spirits away
If a candle flame suddenly turns blue, a ghost is near
If you are out and about on Halloween night and hear footsteps behind you, do not turn around. But if you do, beware! If you meet the gaze of your follower, you will soon be joining the spirits!
If you see a spider on Halloween, it could be the spirit of a loved one who is watching you
All spirits in Purgatory are released and freed for forty-eight hours to roam the earth on Hallows Eve
Walk around your house on Halloween three times backward to ward off evil spirits
Some say if you capture a snail on Halloween and lock it in a flat dish, the following morning you will see the first letter of your sweetheart’s name in the slime
Some believe if a hoot owl swoops down on you on Hallows Eve, it’s coming to eat your soul. According to Celtic legend, if you turn your pockets inside out, the myth will be broken
In Britain, people believe the devil was a nut gatherer. At Halloween, nuts were used as magic charms.
If a girl puts the sprig of a rosemary herb and a silver sixpence beneath her pillow on Halloween night, she will see her future husband in a dream
In North America, it’s bad luck if a black cat crosses your path and good luck if a white cat crosses your path. In Britain, Ireland and Japan, it’s just the opposite!
To prevent evil spirits from entering your house on Halloween, bury animal bones or the picture of an animal near the doorway
A person born on Halloween can see and chat to spirits
A rural American superstition states children born on Halloween will be protected from spirits for life and given the gift of second sight
If you go to a crossroads on Halloween night and listen to the wind, you will learn all the things that will happen to you in the next twelve months
Peel an apple from top to bottom. The person with the longest peel will be assured the longest life
If you toss the peel of an apple over your right shoulder, the initial it forms when landing will be the initial of your soulmate
If a bat flies around your home three times, it is a death omen
In England, you are warned to not go hunting on Halloween night as you will injure a wandering spirit
An English tale warns to not look at your shadow on the eve of Halloween or you will be the next to haunt the graveyard
If bats come out before dark and fly around playfully, it is a sign of good weather to come
If a bat flies into your house, it is a sign perhaps a ghost let the bat in!
Have a Halloween superstition? I would love to hear it! Leave a comment
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