[Northkeep] Halloween

[Hugh & Belinda Niewoehner]

Interesting site, don't know how accurate they are, but it deals with 
customs of Halloween or All Saints Day, etc. or their close equivalents 
around the world.  For Example:

*Halloween Around the World:
Halloween in Germany*

In Germany people put their knives away. This is done as they do not 
want to risk hurting the returning spirits.

In the regions of Bavaria and Austria in Southern Germany, Catholics 
celebrate the entire period between October 30 and November 8 as 
*Seleenwoche* or Alls Souls' Week.

On All Saints' Day Catholics attend church services in honor of the 
saints, the martyrs and those who have died for the Catholic faith. 
People may also visit their family's graves to beautify them with 
wreaths and small lanterns. Sometimes a mass is said at the gravesite 
and the grave sprinkled with holy water.

On November 2 or All Souls' Day, Catholics attend a special Requiem 
masses, where they remember those who may be close to them that have 
died. Prayers for the dead are said and votive candles are lit to honor 
their memory.


Site:  http://www.jackolanterns.net/traditions.htm




On 10/11/2011 4:26 PM, Kathryn Helstrom wrote:
> When I was in North Africa in October of 1985, there were some RAF
> (British) pilots staying at the same hotel as us Americans, and we decided
> to costume it up and have a Halloween Party down at poolside on the night of
> the 31st.  When we showed up in our homemade costumes (hotel sheets were
> never the same after that night), most of the French and Africans were
> clueless about the Halloween tradition.  We spent more of the night
> explaining the party to the rest of the folks at the outdoor bar than I
> would have ever imagined.  Truly, they were not even aware of the Halloween
> celebration.
>
> Franziska
>