Halloween is celebrated in many different ways worldwide; some of these traditions are unique. Each country adds a twist to the holiday, from honoring ancestors to warding off evil spirits. While some customs may seem strange, they all share a common thread of connecting with the supernatural.
Let us explore some of the strangest Halloween traditions from around the world.
Teng Chieh (China)
In China, the Teng Chieh, or Hungry Ghost Festival, offers a Halloween-like experience with an eerie twist. On the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, people light lanterns and place food and water before ancestor portraits to feed their spirits. This tradition, which blends respect for the dead with a fear of hungry ghosts, can feel like a spooky Halloween, where failing to honor the spirits might bring misfortune—an unsettling thought that adds to the festival’s ghostly atmosphere.
Dia de los Muertos (Mexico)
Dia de los Muertos, also known as “Day of the Dead,” in Mexico might be a vibrant and colorful festival, but it’s not without its spooky elements. Celebrated on November 1 and 2, this tradition involves creating altars with sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods of the deceased. Unlike the usual Halloween, which is all about scares, this festival embraces the dead in a joyous and eerie way, blurring the lines between life and death in a uniquely Mexican twist on the Halloween spirit.
Sint-Maarten (Netherlands)
In the Netherlands, Halloween is celebrated a bit differently, taking place on November 11 with the Sint-Maarten festival. Children carry lanterns and sing songs while going door-to-door, akin to trick-or-treating. However, they typically receive fruits, nuts, or small treats instead of candy.
This tradition emphasizes community spirit and sharing rather than the spooky elements associated with Halloween. Sint-Maarten is a festive occasion that fosters neighborly connections and celebrates the joy of giving.
Barmbrack Fortune Telling (Ireland)
In Ireland, Halloween gets a bizarre makeover with Barmbrack, a loaf of bread baked with strange items inside: a bean, a piece of cloth, a coin, and a ring. Each item predicts your future in ways that can be either exciting or downright unsettling—like finding a fabric that signals financial hardship or finding a ring that denotes an upcoming marriage. It’s like Halloween meets fortune-telling, adding a mysterious and slightly unnerving twist to the celebration.
Beet and Turnip Carving (Europe)
Before pumpkins became the go-to Halloween decoration, Europeans had a much weirder tradition: carving beets and turnips into eerie faces. Imagine lighting up a creepy turnip instead of a friendly jack-o’-lantern! This Celtic custom, dating back to the 19th to early 20th centuries, was meant to ward off evil spirits, making it an early version of Halloween’s spookiest decorations. The idea of a sinister, carved vegetable guarding your home certainly adds an extra layer of weirdness to this ancient Halloween practice.
Pangangaluluwa (Philippines)
In the Philippines, Pangangaluluwa is a tradition where children and adults go door-to-door in costumes, singing songs, and asking for prayers for souls in purgatory. Unlike trick-or-treat, which focuses on treats, Pangangaluluwa emphasizes spiritual remembrance.
This practice also serves as a community fundraising effort. There are ongoing efforts to revive and preserve Pangangaluluwa as a meaningful cultural tradition, highlighting its significance in Filipino heritage.
Awuru Odo Festival (Nigeria)
Imagine Halloween lasting for six months—that’s the Awuru Odo Festival in Nigeria. This elaborate celebration marks the return of deceased ancestors, blending both mourning and the celebration of life with masks, feasts, music, and dance. Held every two years, it is a unique and highly anticipated event that underscores the cultural importance of honoring ancestors and integrating their memories into the community’s life.
The idea of living with the spirits of the dead for half a year adds a surreal and slightly creepy dimension to the festival, making it a prolonged, supernatural event unlike any Halloween you’ve ever experienced.
Hiding Knives (Germany)
In Germany, Halloween takes on a peculiar twist with the custom of hiding knives. Families believe that during Halloween and All Saints’ Day, the spirits of the dead might return—and you don’t want them accidentally injuring themselves on a sharp blade! This unusual tradition highlights the eerie respect for the spirit world, turning Halloween into a night where even the simplest household objects can become tools of the supernatural.
Talking to the Dead (Czech Republic)
Halloween in the Czech Republic is less about scares and more about connection—with the dead, that is. During the Commemoration of All the Departed, families place chairs around the fireplace for their deceased relatives as if inviting them to join the living for an evening. This tradition transforms Halloween into a night where the veil between the living and the dead feels thin, adding a touch of the supernatural and making it a night of eerie communion.
P’chum Ben (Cambodia)
Cambodia’s P’chum Ben is a significant 15-day festival where Buddhists honor their ancestors by making food offerings to temples. Celebrated in September or October, the festival allows families to unite in remembrance of the deceased and reflect on the karmic cycles of life and death.
P’chum Ben involves visiting temples, offering food to monks, and engaging in communal activities. This period fosters deep spiritual reflection and strengthens community bonds, reinforcing the connection between the living and the departed.
Ognissanti (Italy)
In Italy, Halloween merges with the traditional All Saints’ Day, or Ognissanti, celebrated on November 1. Italians honor the dead by visiting cemeteries, leaving flowers, and lighting candles. They also set a special place at the dinner table for departed relatives, inviting them to join the family meal.
This practice blends festive celebration with solemn remembrance, highlighting the deep respect for ancestors and maintaining a spiritual connection with the deceased.
Bhoot Chaturdashi (India)
Bhoot Chaturdashi, also known as Kali Chaudas is observed before Diwali in India. It is like Halloween but with a distinctly spooky twist. Known as the night to ward off evil spirits, this festival involves lighting 14 lamps and performing rituals to keep malevolent entities at bay. It’s a night of ghostly tales and protective prayers, where the fear of the supernatural takes center stage—making it a truly eerie counterpart to Halloween.