Halloween & October Festivals
Halloween, a fun autumn tradition which originated in Ireland, is celebrated by both adults and children mainly in England, Ireland, Canada and the United States. While many in these countries are occupied with wearing costumes, sharing candy or carving pumpkins, there are numerous unique festivals celebrated all around the world in October.
Diwali – India (Oct. 23, 2014) | October Festivals
Diwali, one of the largest Hindu festivals, dates back to ancient India where it began as a harvest festival. A celebration of light over darkness and good over evil, there are many legends associated with its origin. Many believe it to be a celebration of the marriage between Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the universe.
On Diwali most Hindus worship Lord Ganesha, the god of auspiciousness and wisdom. Typically, people decorate their homes and shops with small clay oil lamps called diyas, and draw intricate Rangoli designs made of colored rice. Another Diwali tradition is the lighting of fireworks at night. Many families make offerings to Lakshmi in hopes that she will bring them prosperity.
Oktoberfest – Germany (Sept. 20 – Oct. 5, 2014) | October Festivals
Oktoberfest is a sixteen-day festival held each year from late September through early October in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It is one of the most famous events in the city, with some six million people attending every year. Oktoberfest is considered an important part of Bavarian culture.The festival first began in 1810, when the citizens of Munich were invited to attend festivities for a royal wedding. First held in front of the city’s gates, it came to be celebrated annually in varying forms all across Bavaria. In addition to horse racing, it has become a popular time for drinking beer – more than 1 million gallons are consumed each year.
MassKara Festival – Philippines (Oct. 17-19, 2014) | October Festivals
The word MassKara is a fusion of the English word for “many people” and “cara”, the Spanish word for face. The MassKara festival started in 1980 during a period of crisis in the city Bacolod located in the province of Negros Occidental where the festival first began. This area relied heavily on sugar cane as its primary agricultural crop. In 1980, the price of sugar was at an all-time low due to the introduction of sugar substitutes.
But people of the city of Bacolod, also known as the “City of Smiles”, did not give in to depression. Despite financial hardship, artists and residents came together to create a holiday that would reflect the city’s character. Held every third weekend of October, it is symbolic of the positive character of the people of Bacolod.
Odo Festival – Nigeria (Oct. 31, 2014) | October Festivals
The Odo Festival marks the return of the dead in Igbo villages in Nigeria. The Igbo tribe believes that the dead are reincarnated and return to their families in their next life to protect them from evil spirits. The spirits of the dead, known as the Odo, are thought to return to the earth to visit their families every two years. During this time, the dead are welcomed back from the spirit world with elaborate feasts and celebrations.
Having visited their former homes, after six months the spirits must then take their leave. Before they depart, tribesman put on big performances in which masked players representing the spirits reenact the story of their visit to the living and the agony of their departure. Igbo men perform most of the rituals, while the women prepare the food.
Queen Fighting Festival – Switzerland (Oct. 5 & 12, 2014) | October Festivals
Cow fighting is a traditional Swiss event, that takes place primarily in the state of Valais, in which two cows fight each other. Each year, the Swiss canton of Valais hosts a series of cow fights known as “combats de reines” or queen fights. This event began in the 1920s and has drawn as many as 50,000 spectators in a year.
The winner, named “la reine des reines” or the queen of queens, increases greatly in value. The fights start in fall and run through October and into spring. Queen fight cows are a special Swiss breed of cows called Hérens that tends to be particularly feisty and have horns. Despite this, the cows generally just push and shove each other.
Día de los muertos – Mexico (Oct. 29 – Nov. 1)
El dia de los muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday honoring the dead. The three-day celebration begins on the night before Halloween when the dead are thought to return to their homes. Many families construct an altar decorated with flowers, photos and favorite foods of the deceased.
Rituals associated with honoring one’s ancestors date back at least three thousand years in Mexico. During pre-Hispanic times, it was common practice to keep skulls as trophies and display them as symbols of death and rebirth. Ancient festivities were presided over by the goddess known as the Lady of Death. Today the holiday is still dedicated to the lives of deceased relatives.
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