Other cultures have their own versions of Halloween. They're vastly different than what we do to celebrate however.
Their versions aren't even called Halloween, but they are celebrations of the dead, and more of a memorial celebration than our version.
Dia De Muertos I believe is celebrated the same day as Halloween, is the Day of the Dead in Mexico. People decorate alters, have feasts and parades, with the belief that the spirits of the dead rise from their graves to visit their loved ones. During the feasts, they allow the dead to have their share first.
Japan has a similiar holiday called Obon Week, which is celebrated for a week. They celebrate it in mid August, some in mid July, proforming dances, visiting graves, and making food offerings. At the end of Obon Week, the Japanese place floating lanterns into rivers, lakes and seas, to guide the dead back to the afterlife.
What do you guys think of death related holidays in other cultures? Would you ever think to implement the traditions of other cultures into your halloween decor? Do you have anything more to add, or can think of other death related celebrations? I believe the french celebration of Death is Marde Gras, but I'm not entirely positive on that one.
Thoughts?
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DemonSlayerMau
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Halloween in other cultures
This probably seems crazy, crazy, a graveyard theory,
A ghost tried to approach me and got leery.
Ask him a question and he vanished in a second...
~ From a Ghost's Pumpkin Soup (Pumpkin Hill zone theme Song from Sonic Adventure 2) ~
A ghost tried to approach me and got leery.
Ask him a question and he vanished in a second...
~ From a Ghost's Pumpkin Soup (Pumpkin Hill zone theme Song from Sonic Adventure 2) ~
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Haunt Master
Re: Halloween in other cultures
Halloween culture can be tracked back to the Druids, a Celtic culture in Ireland, Britian and Northern Europe. Roots lay in the feast of Samhain, which was annually on October 31st to honor the dead.
The Celts believed the souls of the dead roamed the streets and villages at night. Since not all spirits were thought to be friendly, gifts and treats were left out to pacify the evil and ensure next year's crops would be plentiful. This custom evolved into trick-or-treating.
And, "All Souls Day" is also called "Day of the Dead" - please read: http://all-souls-day.123holiday.net
And also, I saw the movie "All Souls Day" about a couple of years ago... very interesting story and pretty scary too!
All Souls Day is also called as "Dia de los Muertos". Check this film out from imdb.com - www.imdb.com/title/tt0428212
The Celts believed the souls of the dead roamed the streets and villages at night. Since not all spirits were thought to be friendly, gifts and treats were left out to pacify the evil and ensure next year's crops would be plentiful. This custom evolved into trick-or-treating.
And, "All Souls Day" is also called "Day of the Dead" - please read: http://all-souls-day.123holiday.net
And also, I saw the movie "All Souls Day" about a couple of years ago... very interesting story and pretty scary too!
All Souls Day is also called as "Dia de los Muertos". Check this film out from imdb.com - www.imdb.com/title/tt0428212