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As a centuries-old traditional holiday, Halloween is well handed down and widely celebrated by many countries around the world, especially in North America like Canada that it maintains its highest level of popularity. For children in North America, Halloween is a time to dress up in costumes and to go trick-or-treating, a custom that originated in Ireland when children would go singing to each house and be given soul cakes. Halloween is widely believed to be the day when spirits roam or return and people respect the dead and keep the bad spirits at bay as well. It is a time to commemorate our dead and our ancestors, to "hallow" or treat as sacred, including the harvest or earth. Now it is more related to the idea that the dead will play tricks on you if you aren't nice to them. Every year, about 65% of Americans decorate their homes and offices for Halloween, a percentage exceeded only by Christmas. Halloween is the holiday when the most candy is sold and is next only to Christmas in terms of total sales as well as Halloween promotions and giveaways. People may have great interest in learning how Halloween is celebrated around the world, besides the origin of Halloween. Ireland People in Ireland, a country which is believed to be the birthplace of Halloween, warmly celebrate the tradition just as Americans. In rural areas, bonfires are lit as they were in the days of the Celts and children dress up in costumes to spend the evening "trick-or-treating" in their neighborhoods. After the visiting, most people attend parties with neighbors and friends. At these parties, many games are played, including "snap-apple," in which an apple on a string is tied to a doorframe or tree, and players attempt to take a bite out of the suspended apple. In addition to bobbing for apples, parents often arrange treasure hunts with sweets or pastries as the "treasure." The Irish also play a card game where cards are laid face-down on a table with sweets or coins beneath them. When a child selects a card, he or she receives whatever prize might be found there. A traditional food is eaten on Halloween called "barnbrack." This is a type of fruitcake which can be baked at home or store-bought. A muslin-wrapped treat is baked inside the cake which, so it is said, can foretell the future of the one who finds it. If the prize is a ring, then that person will soon be wed and a piece of straw means a prosperous year is forthcoming. Children are also known to play tricks upon their neighbors on Halloween night. One of which is known as "knock-a-dolly," where children knock on the doors of their neighbors but then run away before the door is opened. People would like to carve pumpkins into scary lanterns, and this tradition originates from a legend about Stingy Jack. This man is so mean that he couldn't get into heaven and the devil didn't want him either, so he had to walk the earth for eternity with nothing but a lantern made from a turnip with a coal inside it. He became known as Jack-o-lantern and the tradition of putting lanterns of turnip, beets or pumpkin in windows and doors began, to scare away Jack and all spirits who walk the earth. Pumpkins didn't really become big until a big wave of Irish people moved to America where the pumpkin was ubiquitous. Spain and Mexico Global Psychics explains the Day of the Dead: "In Mexico and Spain, Halloween is known as 'Los Dias de los Muertos' (the day of the dead). However, it isn't a time of sadness but one of great rejoicing to remember friends and family who have died. At this time of year the Monarch Butterflies, which have summered up north in the United States and Canada, return to Mexico. They are believed to bear the spirits of the dearly departed and are warmly welcomed home. In the homes, the family set up an 'altars' with flowers, bread, fruit and candy. Pictures of the deceased family members are added. In the late afternoon special all night burning candles are lit - it is time to remember the departed. In the Aztec calendar, this ritual fell roughly at the end of the Gregorian month of July and the beginning of August, but in the post conquest era it was moved by Spanish priests so that it coincided with the Christian holiday of All Hallows Eve." Austria In Austria, some people will leave bread, water and a lighted lamp on the table before retiring on Halloween night. The reason for this is because it was once believed such items would welcome the dead souls back to earth on a night which for the Austrians was considered to be brimming with strong cosmic energies. France Unlike most nations of the world, Halloween is not celebrated by the French in order to honor the dead and departed ancestors. It is regarded as an "American" holiday in France and was virtually unknown in the country until around 1996. Canada Modern Halloween celebrations in Canada began with the arrival of Scottish and Irish immigrants in the 1800s. Jack O'Lanterns are carved and the festivities include parties, trick-or-treating and the decorating of homes with pumpkins and corn stalks. Germany In Germany, the people put away their knives on Halloween night. The reason for this is because they do not want to risk harm befalling the returning spirits. Belgium The Belgians believe that it is unlucky for a black cat to cross once's path and also ulucky if it should enter a home or travel on a ship. The custom in Belgium on Halloween night is to light candles in memory of dead relatives. Sicily In Sicily it's rather like our Christmas Eve, when children go to bed on the 1st knowing that in the morning, there will be fruit-shaped marzipan as well as other treats waiting for them in the morning. The dead arise from their tombs and bring them to the children for All Saints Day. Czech Republic In the Czech Republic, chairs are placed by the fire, one for each family member and one for his or her spirit. Sweden "Alla Helgons dag" is celebrated between October 31 and November 6 with choirs and the lighting of candles at the graves of loved ones. China In China, the Halloween festival is known as Teng Chieh. Food and water are placed in front of photographs of family members who have departed while bondires and lanterns are lit in order to light the paths of the spirits as they travel the earth on Haloween night. Worshippers in Buddhist temples fashion "boats of the law" from paper, some of which are very large, which are then burned in the evening hours. The purpose of this custom is twofold: as a remembrance of the dead and in order to free the spirits of the "pretas" in order that they might ascend to heaven. "Pretas" are the spirits of those who died as a result of an accident or drowning and whose bodies were consequently never buried. The presence of "pretas" among the living is thought by the Chinese to be dangerous. Under the guidance of Buddhist temples, societies are formed to carry out ceremonies for the "pretas," which includes the lighting of lanterns. Monks are invited to recite sacred verses and offerings of fruit are presented. Hong Kong The Halloween celebration in Hong Kong is known as "Yue Lan" (Festival of the Hungry Ghosts) and is a time when it is believed that spirits roam the world for twenty-four hours. Some people burn pictures of fruit or money at this time, believing these images would reach the spirit world and bring comfort to the ghosts. Korea In Korea, the festival similar to Halloween is known as "Chusok." It is at this time that families thank their ancestors for the fruits of their labor. The family pays respect to these ancestors by visiting their tombs and making offerings of rice and fruits. The "Chusok" festival takes place in the month of August. Japan The Obon festival is celebrated in the summer, with special foods and red lanterns hung. Some are floated on water while others are placed in the house and at the door to let the dead know where their relatives are. As we have seen, almost all countries commemorate their dead at some point in the year, often giving food to them or their representatives (the children) or having the dead rise and give treats themselves. Whether the date is October 31, November 1 or the last Saturday in August, the meaning is the same: we join together to give our respects and hopefully send any dead still walking the earth on to their eternal rest. In Halloween, you can get a lot of gifts through promotions and giveaways. Good news, BlazeVideo, an outstanding software developer who offers first-class multimedia utilities for media fans all over the world, is tapping into the Halloween party with awesome surprises: totally free BlazeVideo iPad Video Converter as well as high-discounted slideshow maker and DVD player. Come and grab your Halloween gifts from BlazeVideo."> As a centuries-old traditional holiday, Halloween is well handed down and widely celebrated by many countries around the world, especially in North America like Canada that it maintains its highest level of popularity. For children in North America, Halloween is a time to dress up in costumes and to go trick-or-treating, a custom that originated in Ireland when children would go singing to each house and be given soul cakes. Halloween is widely believed to be the day when spirits roam or return and people respect the dead and keep the bad spirits at bay as well. It is a time to commemorate our dead and our ancestors, to "hallow" or treat as sacred, including the harvest or earth. Now it is more related to the idea that the dead will play tricks on you if you aren't nice to them. Every year, about 65% of Americans decorate their homes and offices for Halloween, a percentage exceeded only by Christmas. Halloween is the holiday when the most candy is sold and is next only to Christmas in terms of total sales as well as Halloween promotions and giveaways. People may have great interest in learning how Halloween is celebrated around the world, besides the origin of Halloween. Ireland People in Ireland, a country which is believed to be the birthplace of Halloween, warmly celebrate the tradition just as Americans. In rural areas, bonfires are lit as they were in the days of the Celts and children dress up in costumes to spend the evening "trick-or-treating" in their neighborhoods. After the visiting, most people attend parties with neighbors and friends. At these parties, many games are played, including "snap-apple," in which an apple on a string is tied to a doorframe or tree, and players attempt to take a bite out of the suspended apple. In addition to bobbing for apples, parents often arrange treasure hunts with sweets or pastries as the "treasure." The Irish also play a card game where cards are laid face-down on a table with sweets or coins beneath them. When a child selects a card, he or she receives whatever prize might be found there. A traditional food is eaten on Halloween called "barnbrack." This is a type of fruitcake which can be baked at home or store-bought. A muslin-wrapped treat is baked inside the cake which, so it is said, can foretell the future of the one who finds it. If the prize is a ring, then that person will soon be wed and a piece of straw means a prosperous year is forthcoming. Children are also known to play tricks upon their neighbors on Halloween night. One of which is known as "knock-a-dolly," where children knock on the doors of their neighbors but then run away before the door is opened. People would like to carve pumpkins into scary lanterns, and this tradition originates from a legend about Stingy Jack. This man is so mean that he couldn't get into heaven and the devil didn't want him either, so he had to walk the earth for eternity with nothing but a lantern made from a turnip with a coal inside it. He became known as Jack-o-lantern and the tradition of putting lanterns of turnip, beets or pumpkin in windows and doors began, to scare away Jack and all spirits who walk the earth. Pumpkins didn't really become big until a big wave of Irish people moved to America where the pumpkin was ubiquitous. Spain and Mexico Global Psychics explains the Day of the Dead: "In Mexico and Spain, Halloween is known as 'Los Dias de los Muertos' (the day of the dead). However, it isn't a time of sadness but one of great rejoicing to remember friends and family who have died. At this time of year the Monarch Butterflies, which have summered up north in the United States and Canada, return to Mexico. They are believed to bear the spirits of the dearly departed and are warmly welcomed home. In the homes, the family set up an 'altars' with flowers, bread, fruit and candy. Pictures of the deceased family members are added. In the late afternoon special all night burning candles are lit - it is time to remember the departed. In the Aztec calendar, this ritual fell roughly at the end of the Gregorian month of July and the beginning of August, but in the post conquest era it was moved by Spanish priests so that it coincided with the Christian holiday of All Hallows Eve." Austria In Austria, some people will leave bread, water and a lighted lamp on the table before retiring on Halloween night. The reason for this is because it was once believed such items would welcome the dead souls back to earth on a night which for the Austrians was considered to be brimming with strong cosmic energies. France Unlike most nations of the world, Halloween is not celebrated by the French in order to honor the dead and departed ancestors. It is regarded as an "American" holiday in France and was virtually unknown in the country until around 1996. Canada Modern Halloween celebrations in Canada began with the arrival of Scottish and Irish immigrants in the 1800s. Jack O'Lanterns are carved and the festivities include parties, trick-or-treating and the decorating of homes with pumpkins and corn stalks. Germany In Germany, the people put away their knives on Halloween night. The reason for this is because they do not want to risk harm befalling the returning spirits. Belgium The Belgians believe that it is unlucky for a black cat to cross once's path and also ulucky if it should enter a home or travel on a ship. The custom in Belgium on Halloween night is to light candles in memory of dead relatives. Sicily In Sicily it's rather like our Christmas Eve, when children go to bed on the 1st knowing that in the morning, there will be fruit-shaped marzipan as well as other treats waiting for them in the morning. The dead arise from their tombs and bring them to the children for All Saints Day. Czech Republic In the Czech Republic, chairs are placed by the fire, one for each family member and one for his or her spirit. Sweden "Alla Helgons dag" is celebrated between October 31 and November 6 with choirs and the lighting of candles at the graves of loved ones. China In China, the Halloween festival is known as Teng Chieh. Food and water are placed in front of photographs of family members who have departed while bondires and lanterns are lit in order to light the paths of the spirits as they travel the earth on Haloween night. Worshippers in Buddhist temples fashion "boats of the law" from paper, some of which are very large, which are then burned in the evening hours. The purpose of this custom is twofold: as a remembrance of the dead and in order to free the spirits of the "pretas" in order that they might ascend to heaven. "Pretas" are the spirits of those who died as a result of an accident or drowning and whose bodies were consequently never buried. The presence of "pretas" among the living is thought by the Chinese to be dangerous. Under the guidance of Buddhist temples, societies are formed to carry out ceremonies for the "pretas," which includes the lighting of lanterns. Monks are invited to recite sacred verses and offerings of fruit are presented. Hong Kong The Halloween celebration in Hong Kong is known as "Yue Lan" (Festival of the Hungry Ghosts) and is a time when it is believed that spirits roam the world for twenty-four hours. Some people burn pictures of fruit or money at this time, believing these images would reach the spirit world and bring comfort to the ghosts. Korea In Korea, the festival similar to Halloween is known as "Chusok." It is at this time that families thank their ancestors for the fruits of their labor. The family pays respect to these ancestors by visiting their tombs and making offerings of rice and fruits. The "Chusok" festival takes place in the month of August. Japan The Obon festival is celebrated in the summer, with special foods and red lanterns hung. Some are floated on water while others are placed in the house and at the door to let the dead know where their relatives are. As we have seen, almost all countries commemorate their dead at some point in the year, often giving food to them or their representatives (the children) or having the dead rise and give treats themselves. Whether the date is October 31, November 1 or the last Saturday in August, the meaning is the same: we join together to give our respects and hopefully send any dead still walking the earth on to their eternal rest. In Halloween, you can get a lot of gifts through promotions and giveaways. Good news, BlazeVideo, an outstanding software developer who offers first-class multimedia utilities for media fans all over the world, is tapping into the Halloween party with awesome surprises: totally free BlazeVideo iPad Video Converter as well as high-discounted slideshow maker and DVD player. Come and grab your Halloween gifts from BlazeVideo.
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Halloween celebrations around the world, Halloween gift, Halloween promotion and giveaway, Halloween is celebrated around the world,
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