“Its Halloween”: Best halloween festivals in Europe

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

The name Halloween derives from the old European celebration of All Hallows’ Eve (also known as All Saint’s Eve). The tradition dates back to the ancient Celtic harvest festival of Samhain. Halloween is celebrated mostly at the end of October which marks the transition of two seasons. Being the onset of winter, days are shortened which is associated with shortening of life with time.

In different corners across the continents this festival is celebrated according to the customs and traditions of the place. Here are some of the best European Halloween destinations that are gearing up for this spooky festival.

History of Halloween

The Celts being polytheistic, the Samhain festival, in the earlier times, involved a lot of ritualistic ceremonies. With time Christianity took over and the basic traditions of the festivals evolved into modernized and lighthearted games and merrymaking.

The somewhat sombre concept of connecting to the dead was replaced with the blither idea of telling the future. Previously Halloween posed a huge (albeit rather superstitious) matchmaking opportunity for young women in the 19th century.

Best places for Halloween

Denmark– For consecutively three weeks up to October 31, the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen turn into a Halloween wonderland with pumpkin carvings, fiendish characters, intriguing mazes and other spooky things. According to the Danish tradition, people visit light candles on the graveyards of their loved ones who have left the mortal world. Sometimes little monsters and witches are found roaming in the streets of Copenhagen. Give them a candy or tangerine as a treat!

England- Dotted with outdated castles, dark dungeons, and haunted locations, England puts on tons of festive attractions for Halloween. Numerous parties and events are held across the state on this occasion. One of the most exciting attractions of Halloween in England is ghost tours that range from guided tours to live action role play events.

Italy– Venice is one of the most highlighted Halloween destinations in Italy. Natives dresses up in spooky costumes, lights reflecting on the dark water of the canals, extravagant masquerade balls- all make for a great Halloween. Corinaldo, the Italian capital of Halloween is decked up in spooky attractions and holds a fire festival on the evening of 31^st October.

Czech Republic– Stunning medieval houses, haunted cemeteries, ghoulish local legends and sinewy lanes add to the macabre allure of the festival. In reality, the Czech Halloween is observed on 2^nd November instead of 31^st October as “Commemoration of All the Departed”. Natives decorate the graves of their dead with flowers and candles on this day.

Netherlands– Whether it is a family friendly night out or the extravaganza of Obscene Halloween mania, the capital city of Netherlands, Amsterdam has something for everyone on Halloween. Visitors have a good chance to participate in ghost tours, music concerts, costume parties, themed events and all-night marathons of eerie movies.

Besides, there are many other European countries like Belgium, Romania, France and other that celebrate the festival with great pomp and enthusiasm. Each country has its own way of remembering the souls of their loved ones which makes this festival popular across continents.

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