Halloween, formerly known as All Hallows Eve, originates from an ancient Celtic festival, Samhain (pronounced "sowin"). For the Celts, November 1st marked the New Year, the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, a time usually associated with death. For them, October 31st entailed the overlapping of the boundaries between Earth and the Afterworld, when spirits could enter our realm to cause havoc and damage crops. It was further believed that this overlap facilitated Celtic priests to make prophecies for the coming year. For a people entirely dependent on the unpredictable natural world, these prophecies were extremely important and this event was marked by costumed-Celts lighting bonfires and making sacrifices to their deities.
Today, Halloween and festivals linked to the end of the harvest season are celebrated across the globe. Now, let us, the Global Geography Academy, take you on a tour around the world to discover different countries’ unique traditions and twists to the festivities. Consolidate your knowledge after the tour by taking our “Geography of Halloween” quiz! Click on the map below to start the tour, let’s go…!
Get involved by writing your country's or region's Halloween traditions in the comments below and we'll add it to the map!
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