Halloween traditions
HALLOWEEN (All Hallows’ Eve), one of world’s oldest holidays, is celebrated on the night of October 31, before All Hallows’ Day, also called All Saints’ Day on November 1, and All Souls’ Day on November 2. The three days are collectively called Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year for honoring saints and martyrs, and praying for departed loved ones.
Halloween originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people lighted bonfires and wore costumes to ward off ghosts and spirit. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as All Saints’ Day to honor the saints, incorporating some Samhain traditions. The evening before was Halloween which evolved into a community-based event characterized by child-friendly activities such as trick-or-treat, bonfires, costume parties, “haunted house” visits and lighting of jack-o-lanterns.
In trick-or-treat, costumed, masked children go from house to house, asking for treats such as candies, fruits, and toys – and even money. It resembles the medieval “souling,” when poor folk went door to door on November 1, receiving food in return for prayers.
The halloween festival is popular in the United States, Britain, Ireland, and Canada. Many households celebrate it with candles, called “soul lights,” lighted in every room. Costumes are modeled after supernatural characters such as monsters, ghosts, skeletons, fairies, witches, ninjas, and royalties.
Traditions vary: Filipinos hold Halloween on October 31 with parties and children playing trick-or-treat. Hotels, malls, and buildings spruceup with horror-themed décor, hold promos for children such as contests for best and most spooky costumes, free candies, toys, hats and masks. In the next two days – All Saints’ Day (Undas) and All Souls’ Day- Filipinos go home to the provinces for family reunions and to honor their departed loved ones. Rural folk cook native delicacies such as rice cakes, guinatan and suman, eaten with tea or salabat (ginger brew). In the western world, people eat vegetarian food and snacks, such as barmbrack (fruitcake), candy corn, potato pancake, soul cake, apple, pumpkin pastry, and pie.
In Spain, special pastries called “bones of the holy” (huesos de santos) are put on churchyard graves. In Poland, people pray out loud as they walk through the forests to comfort the souls of the dead. In Ireland and Canada, there is a meatless-day custom with pancakes served instead. In Mexico, children build altars to invite the angelitos (dead kid’s spirits). In Finland, people light votive candles called valomeri (sea of light) in cementeries.