Page 46 - 201210 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - October 2012

Halloween Around The World HALLOWEEN while singing the "Punkie Night Song" as they a ring, then that person will soon be wed and a piece of straw means a prosperous year is knocked on doors and asked for money. In some AROUND THE rural areas, turnip lanterns were placed on forthcoming. Children are also known to play tricks upon their neighbors on Halloween night. gateposts to protect homes from the spirits who WORLD roamed on Halloween night. Another custom One of which is known as "knock-a-dolly," was to toss objects such as stones, vegetables where children knock on the doors of their and nuts into a bonfire to frighten away the neighbors but then run away before the door is As one of the world's oldest holidays, spirits. These symbolic sacrifices were also opened. Halloween is still celebrated today in several employed as fortune-telling tools. If a pebble countries around the globe, but it is in North thrown into the flames at night was no longer Japan America and Canada that it maintains its highest visible in the morning, then it was believed that The Japanese celebrate the "Obon level of popularity. Every year, 65% of the person who tossed the pebble would not Festival" (also known as "Matsuri" or Americans decorate their homes and offices for survive another year. If nuts tossed into the "Urabon") which is similar to Halloween Halloween...a percentage exceeded only by blaze by young lovers then exploded, it festivities in that it is dedicated to the spirits of Christmas. Halloween is the holiday when the signified a quarrelsome marriage. For the most ancestors. Special foods are prepared and bright most candy is sold and is second only to part however, the English ceased celebrating red lanterns are hung everywhere. Candles are Christmas in terms of total sales. Halloween with the spread of Martin Luther's lit and placed into lanterns which are then set Protestant Reformation. Since followers of the afloat on rivers and seas. During the "Obon Austria new religion did not believe in Saints, they saw Festival," a fire is lit every night in order to In Austria, some people will leave bread, no reason to celebrate the Eve of All Saints' show the ancestors where their families might water and a lighted lamp on the table before Day. However, in recent years, the American be found. "Obon" is one of the wo main retiring on Halloween night. The reason for this "trick or treating" custom, together with the occasions during the Japanese year when the is because it was once believed such items donning of costumes for going door-to-door, dead are believed to return to their birthplaces. would welcome the dead souls back to earth on has become a relatively popular pasttime among Memorial stones are cleaned and community a night which for the Austrians was considered English children at Halloween, although many dances performed. The "Obon Festival" takes to be brimming with strong cosmic energies. of the adults (particularly the older generations) place during July or August. have little idea as to why they are being asked Belgium for sweets and are usually ill-prepared to Korea The Belgians believe that it is unlucky accommodate their small and hopeful callers. In Korea, the festival similar to for a black cat to cross once's path and also Halloween is known as "Chusok." It is at this ulucky if it should enter a home or travel on a France time that families thank their ancestors for the ship. The custom in Belgium on Halloween Unlike most nations of the world, fruits of their labor. The family pays respect to night is to light candles in memory of dead Halloween is not celebrated by the French in these ancestors by visiting their tombs and relatives. order to honor the dead and departed ancestors. making offerings of rice and fruits. The It is regarded as an "American" holiday in "Chusok" festival takes place in the month of Canada France and was virtually unknown in the August. Modern Halloween celebrations in country until around 1996. Canada began with the arrival of Scottish and Mexico, Latin America And Spain Irish immigrants in the 1800s. Jack O'Lanterns Hong Kong Among Spanish-speaking nations, are carved and the festivities include parties, The Halloween celebration in Hong Halloween is known as "El Dia de los Muertos." trick-or-treating and the decorating of homes Kong is known as "Yue Lan" (Festival of the It is a joyous and happy holiday...a time to with pumpkins and corn stalks. Hungry Ghosts) and is a time when it is remember friends and family who have died. believed that spirits roam the world for twenty- Officially commemorated on November 2 (All China four hours. Some people burn pictures of fruit Souls' Day), the three-day celebration actually In China, the Halloween festival is or money at this time, believing these images begins on the evening of October 31. Designed known as Teng Chieh. Food and water are would reach the spirit world and bring comfort to honor the dead who are believed to return to placed in front of photographs of family to the ghosts. their homes on Halloween, many families members who have departed while bondires and construct an altar in their home and decorate it lanterns are lit in order to light the paths of the Ireland with candy, flowers, photographs, fresh water spirits as they travel the earth on Haloween In Ireland, believed to be the birthplace and samples of the deceased's favorite foods and night. Worshippers in Buddhist temples fashion of Halloween, the tradition is still celebrated as drinks. Frequently, a basin and towel are left out "boats of the law" from paper, some of which much as it is in the United States. In rural areas, in order that the spirit can wash prior to are very large, which are then burned in the bonfires are lit as they were in the days of the indulging in the feast. Candles are incense are evening hours. The purpose of this custom is Celts and children dress up in costumes to spend burned to help the departed find his or her way twofold: as a remembrance of the dead and in the evening "trick-or-treating" in their home. Relatives also tidy the gravesites of order to free the spirits of the "pretas" in order neighborhoods. After the visiting, most people deceased family members, including snipping that they might ascend to heaven. "Pretas" are attend parties with neighbors and friends. At weeds, making repairs and painting. The grave the spirits of those who died as a result of an these parties, many games are played, including is then adorned with flowers, wreaths or paper accident or drowning and whose bodies were "snap-apple," in which an apple on a string is streamers. Often, a live person is placed inside a consequently never buried. The presence of tied to a doorframe or tree, and players attempt coffine which is then paraded through the "pretas" among the living is thought by the to take a bite out of the suspended apple. In streets while vendors toss fruit, flowers and Chinese to be dangerous. Under the guidance of addition to bobbing for apples, parents often candies into the casket. On November 2, Buddhist temples, societies are formed to carry arrange treasure hunts with sweets or pastries as relatives gather at the gravesite to picnic and out ceremonies for the "pretas," which includes the "treasure." The Irish also play a card game reminisce. Some of these gatherings may even the lighting of lanterns. Monks are invited to where cards are laid face-down on a table with include tequila and a mariachi band although recite sacred verses and offerings of fruit are sweets or coins beneath them. When a child American Halloween customs are gradually presented. selects a card, he or she receives whatever prize taking over this celebration. In Mexico during might be found there. A traditional food is eaten the Autumn, countless numbers of Monarch England on Halloween called "barnbrack." This is a type butterflies return to the shelter of Mexico's At one time, English children made of fruitcake which can be baked at home or oyamel fir trees. It was the belief of the Aztecs "punkies" out of large beetroots, upon which store-bought. A muslin-wrapped treat is baked that these butterflies bore the spirits of dead they carved a design of their choice. Then, they inside the cake which, so it is said, can foretell ancestors. [] would carry their "punkies" through the streets the future of the one who finds it. If the prize is