Halloween: Celebrations in Other Countries

I am continuing my Halloween posts, and this week, I am talking about how other countries celebrate my favorite holiday of the year. It's interesting to see how other countries celebrate Halloween (instead of just going out and buying a costume and candy).

Austria
Some people leave bread, water, and a lamp on the table. In doing this, they believe it will help welcome the souls back to earth. Halloween in Austria is considered to have many cosmic energies.

Belgium
Belgians believe it is unlucky for a black cat to cross one's path. They also light candles in memory of deceased relatives.

Czechoslovakia
In Czechoslovakia, chairs are placed by the fire: one for each family member, and one for each spirit.

Mexico, Latin America and Spain
Among Spanish-speaking nations, Halloween is known as "El Dia de los Muertos." It is a joyous and happy holiday...a time to remember friends and family who have died. Officially commemorated on November 2 (All Souls' Day), the three-day celebration actually begins on the evening of October 31. Designed to honor the dead who are believed to return to their homes on Halloween, many families construct an altar in their home and decorate it with candy, flowers, photographs, fresh water and samples of the deceased family member's favorite foods and drinks. Frequently, a basin and towel are left out in order that the spirit can wash prior to indulging in the feast. Candles and incense are burned to help the departed find his or her way home. Relatives also tidy the grave sites of deceased family members, including snipping weeds, making repairs and painting. The grave is then adorned with flowers, wreaths or paper streamers. Often, a live person is placed inside a coffin which is then paraded through the streets while vendors toss fruit, flowers and candies into the casket. On November 2, relatives gather at the grave site to picnic and reminisce. Some of these gatherings may even include tequila and a mariachi band although American Halloween customs are gradually taking over this celebration. In Mexico during the Autumn, countless numbers of Monarch butterflies return to the shelter of Mexico's fir trees. It was the belief of the Aztecs that these butterflies bore the spirits of dead ancestors.