Happy Halloween 2011

Photo: Celebrating the Seasons of Life: Samhain to Ostara

Halloween was, in reality, a pagan holiday that was born from the Celtic celebration of the dark season. This specific festival is also known as "Samhain". In these times, Gallic people used to observe the same type of celebration, known as "Samonios"; however, the Gallic day has been replaced with Christian festivals; which is the reason why Halloween hasn't remained a traditional festival for most of Europeans.

Celts observed Samhain three days before and three days after the 1st of November. Although there were no carved pumpkins or trick or treating, people used to walk holding a lantern made out of a turnip and the celebration was stricly observed by the entire pagan society. Naturally, Samhain festival was also the occasion for Barbarians to eat, drink and have lots of fun.

Through the centuries, while Continental Europeans converted to Christianism and stopped to celebrate Samonios; which was replaced with All Saints Day, Celts turned Samhain into All Hallow's Eve.

You might wonder why I keep writing about the former Gallic pagan festival and here's why: although All Saints Day and Halloween may appear as totally different holidays, they're strongly linked in that "All Hallow's Eve" means "The night before the fest of all saints" and that it was supposed to be followed by "All Hallow's Day"; which translates into the Christian "All Saints Day" on the Continent.

As you can see, although the festivities and activities are different, the meaning of both holidays is the same.

All Hallow's Eve evolved through the centuries and crossed the Atlantic Sea when European colonists and, more particularly, Irish emigrants, brought the festival with them to their new home country.

If you're interested in learning which country does celebrate Halloween and what's the meaning of Halloween in other countries, read on :)

By the way, just click here to download a free Happy Halloween book that includes Halloween coloring pages, recipes, songs for your kids as well as a bunch of Halloween ideas for adults :)

Happy Halloween in Ireland

Trick or treating originated in Ireland, so as usual, Irish children in disguise will enjoy the Halloween festivities, they will carry lanterns cut into large rutabagas. Children will get candy and different types of sweets from their neighbours and Irish will decorate their houses with lights especially made for Halloween.

Happy Halloween in England

English people celebrate Halloween just a few days before the Guy Fawkes Day (on November 5th) and adapted customs from Samhain; which are highly popular. These festivities are marked by torchlight parades where children use masks made from beets and pumpkins and associated apple games such as apple bobbing with Halloween.

Happy Halloween in Scotland

Scottish people practice their ancient pagan rites. Children wear costumes and cut scary faces into large rutabagas and place a candle inside them. They receive candy when they provide a nice entertainment to their neighbours.

Happy Halloween in Wales

The old Halloween customs in Wales are still well alive an Welsh people do observe them. Those customs required to burn a Halloween fire in which people throw a stone with their name written on it. The very next day, they look for their stone and, whenever one would be missing, it would mean that the person would die in the next year. Luckily, Welsh people also enjoy fun Halloween celebrations and, dressed up in funny costumes, celebrate their happy Halloween at the local pub after having admired bonfires in the neighborhood.

All countries don't celebrate Halloween the same way ; many countries don't celebrate the festival at all while some other shyly try to integrate the holiday with their own culture and traditions. Let's have a look at some of the countries that celebrate Halloween.

Happy Halloween in France

French people think that this holiday is too commercial and while this country finally adopted Halloween in the late 1990s, it is now less appreciated. There are very few children ringing at the doors and asking for sweets.

Happy Halloween in Belgium

Halloween is not a traditional holiday; however, Belgians began to organize some parties and/or activities 10-15 years ago but it's hard to get more people to join this 24-hours fun as many of them still refuse to adopt it, preferring to celebrate their own Samhain-style holiday. Additionally, Belgians don't open their doors to unknown people - including children - and trick or treating is considered as begging.

Happy Halloween in Spain

Spanish people enjoy each kind of holidays and parties. Their kids will then enjoy receiving candies from their neighbours and adults will have the opportunity to have a Halloween party in each and every club. Many Halloween parades will also be held in Spain from which people will have lots of fun.

Happy Halloween in Portugal

As a Catholic country where Christian celebrations are extremely important and closely observed, Portugal does not celebrate Halloween. Portuguese people celebrate the Day of the Dead by organizing feasts at the cemetery.

Happy Halloween in Italy

Some regions of Italy organize Halloween events and it seems that the Italian children enjoy this holiday. As in most Continental European countries, Halloween is in its beginnings in Italy; let's wait for another 10 years to see if the celebration evolves and becomes part of the Italian traditions.

Happy Halloween in Other European countries

Other European town authorities and communities or clubs organize commercial events for Halloween (mainly for tourists), newspapers publish articles dedicated to Halloween, but I am unsure that people really take part to the Halloween fun. There's very few information about Halloween festivities in Europe; especially Central and Eastern Europe. They generally tend to stick to their own All Saints Day and Day Of The Dead; which are entire part of their traditions and culture.