Olivia Merva ’29
EE Staff Writer
Around the world, Halloween is marked not just by costumes and candy, but by a fascinating collection of unusual superstitions that reveal how cultures encounter the unknown. While many people think of Halloween as a night of fun and scares, different cultures reveal it has been a holiday filled with mysteries and strange rituals. From ancient celebrations to our current interpretations, Halloween has always been a time of acknowledging the abnormal, honoring the dead, and performing rituals to influence luck for the future years. Halloween is more than just a fun holiday, it is a peek into the beliefs and creativity of different cultures around the world.
In many parts of Eastern Europe, Halloween superstitions are deeply tied to old beliefs about spirits and fortune telling. People once thought that on the night of October 31, the souls of the dead could return to visit the living. To protect themselves, villagers placed candles in windows and covered mirrors, fearing that spirits might use reflections to cross into their homes. These traditions mix fear with curiosity, showing how people in Eastern Europe once used Halloween as a night to look into both the spiritual world and their own futures.
In South Africa, Halloween superstitions blend ancient African customs with modern celebrations. Instead of focusing on ghosts and monsters, many traditions revolve around showing respect to ancestors and keeping away harmful spirits. Some families light candles or burn herbs to cleanse their homes, believing that smoke carries prayers to loved ones who have passed away. Others leave out small portions of food to honor ancestors, ensuring they stay at peace. While Halloween parties and costumes have become more popular in cities, the older beliefs remind people that this time of year isn’t just about the fear, it’s about remembering where you come from and protecting your family from unseen forces.
Across South America, Halloween traditions blend with local legends that are eerie and fascinating. In parts of Peru and Bolivia, people bake bread shaped like human figures to honor returning spirits, but they also say that if you drop the bread or eat it too quickly, it could invite bad luck for the year ahead. In Chile, there is a superstition that if a black butterfly enters your house on Halloween night, it carries the soul of someone who has recently passed away. In Brazil, some rural areas tell stories of the Lobisomem, a man who turns into a wolf every full moon and people still avoid walking near forests at night to steer clear of him. Others believe that sweeping your house after dark chases away good spirits instead of dirt. These strange customs may sound unusual, but they reveal how deeply South American cultures connect Halloween with respect for the dead and fear of the mysterious forces that remain in the night.
From fortune-telling in Eastern Europe to honoring ancestors in South Africa and South America, Halloween superstitions around the world show just how differently people view this mysterious night. Whether it’s about predicting the future, protecting the home, or connecting with spirits, each region turns October 31 into something more than just costume and candy. Halloween is a night when old beliefs come alive and the line between the living and the spiritual world feels a little thinner. These traditions remind us that Halloween is a mix of history, fear, and fascination.
omg another great story from olivia!!! this is such a great story 10/10 must try again!!!!!!!