The Weirdest & Creepiest Traditions Around The World

1. Leaving bread for the spirits - Austria

imagesource/twitterIn Austria, they celebrate Seleenwoche (All Souls' Week) between October 30th and November 8th. On the night of October 31st, people leave bread and water out on the table and light a lamp to welcome and feed the souls of the dead.

2. Decorating real human skulls - Bolivia

imagesource/thesandiegouniontribuneEach year on November 8th, Bolivians observe the Fiesta de las Ñatitas by decorating real skulls, either from deceased family members or given from medical schools or old cemataries. They're decorated with flowers, jewellery and glasses.

3. Honoring departed ancestors with food - Cambodia

imagesource/wikipediaPchum Ben is a Cambodian buddist festival and happens over 3 days in September or October. During those three days, the gates of hell are said to open and let the spirits out to receive food offerings from their relatives. Celebrants rise early in the morning and cook rice balls and other foods which they take to temples and pagodas.

4. Putting chairs around the fireplace - Czech Republic

imagesource/clumsygirltravelsOn the Day of the Dead, which is November 2nd, an old Czech custom is to place chairs around the fireplace and one for each deceased one. People in the Czech Republic also visit graves and leave an array of flowers and candles for their loved ones.

5. Looking in the mirror - England

imagesource/theamishcatholicIn England, theres a superstition that if you look into a mirror in a dark room on Halloween, you will see the face of his or her future mate in the background. If you see a skull instead of a face, this means the person will die before you marry them.

6. Dressing up in a ghoulish costume - France

imagesource/frenchtodayHalloween is traditionally an American holiday, but this doesn't stop other countries from celebrating it. Halloween is somewhat controversial in France because it's perceived as too commercial, too American and a real threat to French traditions - and we know how much the French have a dislike to that.

7. Hiding knives - Germany

imagesource/lagrandeNow this might just be the most random one on this list and although its a bit of an older traditions some Germans still hide all the knives in their homes at Halloween so that returning souls don't accidentally cut themselves.

8. Dressing up in a costume for Apokries - Greece

imagesource/keeptalkinggreeceThe locals in Greece have their own way of celebrating Halloween, which they call Apokries, which is celebrated before the Lent season and not in October, like many other countries usually. Apokries dates back to ancient Greec and is dedicated to Dionysius, the Greek god of wine and revelry.

9. Performing vodou rituals - Haiti

imagesource/nationalgeographicThe Island of Haiti has its own version of the Day of the Dead and it's called Gede or Feast of the Dead - and it's celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. People who believe that they're possessed by the Gede Lwa - spirits of the dead - pay homage to Baron, father of the spirits. They dance around in the street and sometimes wash themselves with raw rum spiked with hot chillis.

10. Trick or treating at Disneyland - Hong Kong

imagesource/hongkongdisneylandresortHong Kong uses Halloween as a great way to advertise its theme parks like Disneyland and Ocean Park. It's a great way for locals to also decorate their shopping centres around the city with spooky decorations to get in the festive spirit.

11. Performing rituals for souls of the dead - India

imagesource/ishafoundationIndia's version of Halloween is called Pitru Paksha - the lunar feast and it happens in September or October and lasts around two weeks. In order to keep the souls of the dead at peace, people perform rituals every day and the traditional belief is that the people of the present owe a lot to the people of the past.

12. Eating fruitcake - Iceland

imagesource/wikipediaHalloween actually originated in Ireland as a Pagan festival. Barmbrack - meaning speckled loaf - is a fruitcake made with raisins, currants and citrus peel and traditionally a ring would be hidden inside of it. Whoever cut that piece of cake and ate it would be the next to marry.

13. Leaving cookies as an offering to the dead - Italy

imagesource/anamericaninromeItaly celebrates All Saints Day or All Souls Day on the two following days of Halloween. Cookies called beans of the dead, are an offering to the departed and in ancient Rome, they believed that the souls of the dead lived on beans, these beans were often used in funeral rites.

14. Parading in a costume - Japan

imagesource/thejapantimesIn the city of Kawasaki, Halloween is a relatively new tradition but it tends to attract thousands of participants and thousands of spectators per year. The parade tends to take place on the 23rd of the months and the only rule is that you must wear a costume.

15. Building altars and eating "bread of the dead" - Mexico

imagesource/yummlyMexico and other Latin American countries celebrate the Day of the Dead on Nov 1 & 2nd. Th first day is dedicated to deceased children called "little angels" and the second is the actual Day of the Dead. Altars are built and adorned with confectionary which is said to attract the spirits to the offerings.

16. Partying throughout the country - The Netherlands

imagesource/CNNHalloween in the Netherlands has been embraced as a great excuse to party and this years options include a Japanese themed horror part in Amsterdam, Crazy Sexy Cool in Rotterdam and Fantasy Fest in The Hague. The holiday is more traditionally celebrated on November 11th on St Martins Day.

17. Visiting haunted places - Norway

imagesource/visitnorwayIn Norway, Halloween is the perfect time to visit haunted places which include Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, which is said to be haunted by a spectral monk and his demon dog that was buried alive centuries ago. The spirit is said to mess with the locks and lights of cars parked nearby.

18. Singing songs - The Phillipines

imagesource/wikipediaPangangaluluwa — the Filipino version of Halloween - is observed on November 1st and although the practice is dying out in urban areas, it's still celebrated in some areas. Pangangaluluwa involves groups of people going house to house after visiting graves of loved ones, singing songs and asking for prayers a donations.

19. Lighting candles at cemeteries - Poland

imagesource/redditZaduski, All Souls' Day is celebrated on November 2nd in Poland and it's an important holiday for a lot of families. Family members gather around graves of family members and light candles. The traditions come from ancient roots and it is believed that the spirits of the dead will return on that day each year.

20. Trick or treating for bread - Portugal

imagesource/bucketlistportugalHalloween is known as the Dia das Bruxas in Portugal and there are many local traditions that have the same roots as Halloween in other countries. This includes trick or treating, although, kids in Portugal ask for bread. They also take part in Pumpkin carving which happens all around the world.

21. Celebrating Dracula Day in May - Romania

imagesource/wonderfulwonderingsDracula Day is celebrated on May 26th after writer, Bra, Stoker based his fictional count on the 15th century Romanian ruler Prince Vlad III, also known as Vlad the Impaler. Stoke never visited Romania but filled his book with descriptions of places you can visit. Interesting really.

22. Peeling an apple and burning hazelnuts - Scotland

imagesource/portablepressYoung women peel an apple in one long piece and throw it over their left shoulder with their right hand. The way it lands is said to form the initials of their husband-to-be's first name. The other tradition involved hazelnuts side by side in a fire, representing the one who placed them or his intended. If they burn together, the two will marry.

23. Partying throughout the island - Singapore

imagesource/thesmartlocalHalloween in Singapore becomes party central every October 31st and clubs, pubs, breweries, food markets and theme parks include Booze & Boo's, Halloween Horror Nights and Horror Haunt. Many can experience being a big kid for the night with no judgement.

24. Celebrating with costume and ghost parties - South Korea

imagesource/thekoreatimesHalloween has become quite a big deal in South Korea in recent years and is celebrated with a number of events like costume parties, ghost parties and even erotic and amnesia parties. Slightly odd, but whatever floats your boat!

25. Eating chestnuts and egg-yolk candies - Spain (Catalonia in particular)

imagesource/tasteatlasIn the Catalonia region of Spain, La Castanyada (Chesnut Festival) is tied in with All Saints Day where Church bells ring all night on the eve and some foods are given out to people whilst they say their prayers for their dead relatives.

26. Avoiding spirits and the Black sow - Wales

imagesource/tasteatlasWales' Calan Gaeaf has been celebrated for more than a thousand years where it is believed that spirits return, so people avoid graveyards, stiles and crossroads, since spirits gather there. The creepy ritual called Hwch Ddu - a man covered in animal skin - rides up and chases away the children.