When fall arrives and our calendar marks the beginning of October, we immediately think about one thing in particular: Halloween. We can confidently say that this celebration has become a global phenomenon, although there are certain regions that take it more seriously than others. Depending on where you are, Halloween will look differently; it could be really frightening, with ghost stories, spooky costumes and scary legends, or it could be more like a party, where everyone dresses up as their favorite characters and everything revolves around music, food and candy. Of course, in most parts, we’ll find a combination between the two or something so unique that you won’t find it anywhere else.
For today’s blog, we would like to go on a tour around the world to see the best destinations to enjoy an unforgettable Halloween. But, before we begin, we should really understand what this celebration is about and its origins. It all dates back to the festival of Samhain, celebrated among the Celts, where on November 1st in modern calendars, they believed the new year began and winter arrived. The story goes that during Samhain, those who had died throughout the year made the journey to the otherworld, and the souls of the dead returned home for a brief period of time. Additionally, Celts set bonfires to keep evil spirits away and they wore masks and disguises to avoid being recognized by ghosts. We can begin to see what parts of Samhain have survived until our days, don’t we? Don’t rush, that’s not the end of it all. The name Halloween comes from a contraction of All Hallow’s Eve, October 31st holiday, right before All Saints Day. As you can see, pagan and christian beliefs and traditions have merged into the celebration of Halloween that we know and love nowadays (obviously, we can add lots of commercial aspects into the mix). With all of this new information, we’re clear to begin our tour around the world!
Derry, Northern Ireland:
Since we were just talking about the origins of Halloween, let’s start off our journey in a place where you can still feel the spirit of Samhain. We’re talking about Derry, in Northern Ireland, which hosts the biggest Halloween festival in all of Europe. Each year, thousands of people from all over the world gather in Derry and from October 28th until 31st, the city transforms itself into a carnival of haunted houses, the most creative costumes, magic shows, fortune-telling and bonfires. There’s something for the little ones and adults, and everyone is welcome to celebrate Halloween in the most spectacular way. It goes without saying that part of the magic of spending the date in Derry is being able to learn more about the origins of this celebration, so while you’re in the city, be sure to live the Awakening of the Walled City Trail, so as to discover everything about the folklore, history and heritage of Derry, Samhain and Halloween. This will be a mesmerizing experience created through illumination, aerial performances, pyrotechnics and music, that will undoubtedly make you feel as if the spirits have returned with their magic and mischief.
Derry is the proud home of Europe’s biggest Halloween Festival and a place that has a strong connection with Samhain, from where the celebration originates.
Salem, Massachusetts:
Our next destination is not for the faint of heart. Salem, Massachusetts might be a small town, but it has an incredible and haunting history. During the 17th-century, several men and women were found guilty of witchcraft, which led to their hanging. Since then, this town has made a reputation for itself as “the Witch City” and has attracted thousands of people trying to uncover the secrets of these macabre events. Nowadays, there are multiple museums and memorials telling the stories of those who were victims of the witch hunts, and of course, during Halloween, Salem comes to life in a whole different way. Throughout the month of October, you can enjoy the Salem Haunted Happenings, a series of events such as parades, film nights, carnival rides, paranormal tours and a costume ball that puts everyone in the best Halloween spirit and reminds us why this town is so popular during this time of the year. Additionally, activities such as the trolley and walking tours and the haunted houses experiences are a great way to get to know Salem and its people’s history a bit better. If you want to have a spooky Halloween, you probably will want to spend it right here at Salem, where the witches haven’t been forgotten.
The haunting history of Salem has made “the Witch City” a favorite Halloween spot.
Hong Kong:
Hong Kong may not sound as an obvious destination to celebrate this occasion, but in reality, it is regarded as the Halloween Capital of Asia. Of course, it wasn’t always like this, but along the way, the city started to embrace the more commercial and party-like type of Halloween, aside from maintaining its traditions of celebrating the festival to prevent evil spirits and their influence in their lives, as well as to honor loved ones who have passed away. Thus, today we find a Halloween where parties, costumes and loud music cohabit with the traditional commemoration and remembrance of the dead. And as the Halloween Capital of Asia, everything’s big in Hong Kong: the most important theme parks of the city, such as Disneyland or Ocean Park, have whole itineraries with different events such as parades and balls. But the celebrations in Hong Kong aren’t reserved for the theme parks, because all across the city, throughout October there are going to be multiple parties, haunted houses, bazaars and magic shows bringing out the best of Hong Kong’s Halloween spirit. For those who want to feel like a local during their visit, some of the most popular events are the Lan Kwai Fong Halloween Street Party, and the traditional Yue Lan, also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, a special place where people bring gifts for the spirits of the dead.
Theme parks such as Disneyland and Ocean Park are a key part of Hong Kong’s Halloween celebrations.
Oaxaca, Mexico:
Mexico is a really interesting place to visit during Halloween festivities because of course, you’ll find numerous people dressing up in costumes, the classic spooky decorations (vampires, ghosts, zombies, etc.), as well as children happily trick-or-treating. However, in Mexico the heart of these dates is the celebration of the Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Even though it happens on November 2nd, the festivities begin on October 31st, and across these days, elaborate rituals, processions, candlelight vigils and family gatherings happen in order to welcome back the spirits and pay respects to the loved ones that have passed. The celebrations are so spectacular that in 2003 it was declared a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage event. Specifically, Oaxaca is the perfect place to spend the Day of the Dead, because as a place with one of the country’s highest indigenous populations, the traditions of the Día de los Muertos have been kept alive through generations, creating the most colorful and beautiful testaments of love and the eternal connection between the alive and the dead.
The Day of the Dead celebrations in Oaxaca are some of the most magical in all of Mexico.
Venice, Italy:
Perhaps Italy doesn’t stand out as a classic Halloween destination, but you’ll be surprised by the haunted experiences that you can enjoy there. For example, Venice is very popular for ghost hunting, and obviously, this becomes even more attractive during October. The island of Poveglia is a favorite, because as an ancient quarantine zone for those suffering from the plague and an asylum in the early 20th century, it has all that it takes to be a paranormal activity hot-spot. Additionally, one of the most important days in Venice is the All Saints’ Day, in which people put on their best costumes and head off looking for paranormal adventures in the adjacent islands. For a fun Halloween night, you can go to one of the numerous masquerade balls that are held in the city to celebrate.
One of the most interesting parts of spending Halloween in Venice is the opportunity to attend one of its amazing masquerade balls.
What do you think about our international journey? What was your favorite destination? We tried to show you different facets of Halloween, from the most frightening to the sweetest one. What’s incredible about it all is that regardless of how you call it -Samhain, All Saint’s Day, Día de los Muertos or Halloween- different traditions and symbols merge to create a celebration of the dead, the alive and the unreal. There’s a reason why it is one of the most popular and beloved celebrations around the world. With nothing left to say, Happy Halloween!
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