About This Quiz
Halloween has ancient roots and is celebrated differently from country to country. How much do you know about Halloween traditions around the world?Allhallowtide is a three-day religious observance that includes Halloween, which comes first, followed by All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.
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Western Christianity sprouted a three-day religious observance (from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2) that includes Halloween.
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All Hallows' Eve is the original term for this holiday. Halloween is celebrated in numerous countries around the world.
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Hallowed Evening isn't typically used for Halloween, but there are many other words and phrases that describe Oct. 31.
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During the three days of Allhallowtide, Christians honor the dead, including sacred saints and martyrs.
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They don't believe that people are resurrected, but some do believe that during these holidays, the doorway between life and post-life is more open than at any other time of the year.
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Many of the traditions of Halloween came from Ireland, where bonfires, trick-or-treating and bobbing for apples are common activities.
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Kids pick the card they want, and underneath they'll find a prize, such as candy or money.
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Pitru Paksha means "fortnight of the ancestors," a 16-day period in September during which Hindu families pay respects to the dead.
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Some Czech families put chairs around the fireplace so that any returning spirits have a place to sit.
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Celebrated in July, the Hungry Ghost Festival is an opportunity for Asians to pay their respects to their deceased ancestors.
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The paper ships and lanterns supposedly offer direction to those who have passed on. Celebrants may also present many gifts, such as food or gold, in an effort to honor the dead.
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In the American Southwest, the Zuni Native Americans may celebrate Ahoppa Awan Tewa in late October.
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To honor the dead, they might throw part of a meal into a fire, and they might also bury some of the possessions of the dead.
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Around 1750, the word "Halloween" began to refer to All Hallows' Eve, which wasn't common until the mid-16th century.
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To honor the dead during this two-week period, many Hindus make food offerings for their ancestors.
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With a bit of holy water sprinkled onto a grave, Catholics honor their loved ones.
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A rice and milk mixture called kheer along with porridge, beans and a gourd are all part of the expected offerings for the deceased during Pitru Paksha.
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The Western version of Halloween (along with trick-or-treating) is still a fairly unfamiliar concept to most Chinese children, unless they have Western friends.
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On Nov. 1, the Day of the Dead, Mexican families come together to pray for their deceased loved ones. They hold parades and festivals and build altars to honor the dead.
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The dead supposedly return to their physical homes on Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos.
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Some Mexicans believe that the dead who return home may want to cleanse themselves before partaking in the celebratory feast.
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Australians are known for their indifference (or outright objections) to Halloween. Some cite overcommercialization or foreign influences as reasons to avoid the big day.
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In Ireland, barmbrack is a type of bread often baked for Halloween. The baker includes special objects, such as cloth or coins, as a sort of fortune-telling game played amongst the people who consume it.
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Mexicans often celebrate Day of the Dead with treats, including candy skulls.
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After returning from the graveyard or a church service, they might leave their doors unlocked so returning spirits have an easier time getting back into their Earthly homes.
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Seleenwoche is All Souls' Week, the period from Oct. 30 to Nov. 8, and it's an extended version of the Halloween season. It is most often celebrated in Austria.
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Austrians might leave bread, water and a lamp as an offering to the dead, who supposedly return home during Seleenwoche.
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Day of the Dead is a way for Mexicans to accept death as a natural part of the human condition. Instead of mourning, they celebrate so as not to offend the dead with their sadness.
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If they leave their shoes outside as a sort of offering, children may wake up to find treats inside their sneakers.
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