Ah, Halloween: a holiday with so much opportunity for fun and festivity. Many people get more excited for Halloween than they do for their own birthday or Christmas.
Every family has their own traditions that they follow. Mine, for example, used to take half a dozen rolls of toilet paper, some old eggs, and flashlights out into our own front yard on Mischief Night and wreak havoc. My dad didn't want us to disrespect other people's property, so he had us "perform mischief" on our own. Plus, still being a kid at heart, it was one of his favorite nights of the year.
Mischief Night, the night before Halloween, is a fairly recent North American Halloween tradition. However, Halloween has a lot of history, which was created as a way to remember the dead in most cultures. Americans have moved toward the spooky, fun, and commercial way of celebrating, but what about Halloween's roots?
These 10 Halloween traditions from around the world are ones you've probably never heard of, and can really help you see how amazingly different cultures truly are.
Did we miss any of the more weird or interesting Halloween traditions you've taken part in? Let us know in the comments and please SHARE with family and friends on Facebook to see how they all celebrate this spooky time of year!
Thumbnail source: Flickr
1. Carved Turnips
Before we carved pumpkins to make jack-o-lanterns, folks on the British Isles carved turnips instead. I have to say, these turnips are definitely a lot creepier.
2. Soul Cakes
In Christian tradition, soul cakes were given out to children and the poor to remember the souls of the deceased. These small cakes are often referred to simply as "souls," and are handed out in many English towns on Halloween.
3. Empty Chairs At The Fireplace
Czech families celebrate Halloween on November 2nd by pulling up empty chairs to the fireplace for every deceased relative. Just picture that for a second. It might get kind of creepy!
4. Candy From The Dead
In Italy, children wake up to candy and gifts laid out for them on the morning of November 2nd. Who brought them these presents, though? Why, the "risen dead," of course!
5. Spouse-Predicting Apple Peels
In Scotland, an apple is peeled in one long spiral and thrown over the shoulder around Halloween time. Whatever letter the peel most closely resembles predicts the letter the thrower's future spouse's name will begin with.
6. Tricks For Treats
In some cities in North America, kids say "tricks for treats," instead of "trick or treat." Then, the kids tell a joke in exchange for candy. This way, you get the best of both worlds without any damaged property or any of the more mischievous tricks.
7. A Ring In The Fruitcake
In Ireland, a ring is dropped into the batter of a rich fruitcake called barmbrack before it's baked for the Halloween celebration. Whoever discovers the jewelry will find love in the next year.
8. Hiding All The Knives
In Germany, to respect the dead returning to this world, people stash away all the knives in their homes so that the returning spirits can't do themselves any harm — or do any harm to others.
9. Staring Into A Dark Mirror
Some cities in the UK and in North America believe that if you look into a mirror in a pitch black room on Halloween night, you will see the face of your future spouse peering over your shoulder from the dark room behind you.
10. Bread, Water, And Lights
Leaving bread and water out in Austrian homes is a tradition that welcomes dead spirits back. You're also supposed to keep the lights on for them, too.
Does your family have any traditions on Halloween that you think should become more well-known? SHARE with family and friends to see what they do during this spooky time of year.
