Every tradition and ritual has origins. Many of them date back to ancient times and have surprisingly survived for centuries. Considering that during these times there were no organized religions and science was, obviously, less developed, the rituals had meanings that now would not make sense. However, in some countries today, people still follow them, even when these rituals seem eerie or unsettling.
All around the world, we come across rituals that are devoted to certain witches, ghosts, or spookier beings. Some people actually believe that if these traditions are not respected, something dangerous will happen. Others just enjoy the process even if it feels scary.
In this article, we will discuss 5 of the creepy rituals from around the world that still actively continue to take place. Let’s see if they surprise you.
1. Halloween Carnival in Ireland
In general, Ireland is famous for its strange traditions and eerie folk tales. According to famous legends, the Halloween celebration started over 2000 years ago on the territory of Ireland. It is connected to the Celtic festival called Samhain. It was believed that on the day of Halloween, our world and the dark spirit world were so close together that the spirits could walk in and curse us any time they wanted. To avoid upsetting them, people decided to honour them instead on this day.
We all know that today, a typical Halloween has become a day of costumes and collecting candy. But bonfires remain a significant ritual too for one interesting reason: building a massive fire is believed to attract luck and keep dark forces away. People say the bigger the fire, the better your fortune and luck with evil spirits. Yes, not everyone is up to ancient rituals, and many people prefer to try on digital forms of chance, such as bitcoin gambling or any other forms of games of chance online, but for many Irish locals, nothing compares to a real bonfire. That’s why, in Dublin, you may notice a lot of bonfires with people dressed in scary costumes dancing around them.
2. Haiti’s Festival of the Ancestors
On the island of Haiti, you will come across many wonders, but none of them is as strange as Fèt Gede – the festival for the ancestors.
It all comes from the belief in Voodoo magic. On the first two days of November, Haitians honour their ancestors by decorating the streets, dancing, and lighting lots of candles. They also go to the graves of their deceased loved ones and play music, along with drinking rum. To outsiders, these practices may seem eerie, but for Haitians, they represent deep respect and connection to their heritage.
3. Mexico’s Día de los Muertos
Día de los Muertos, also known as the Day of the Dead, is a celebration of ancestors in Mexico that happens every year. While in other cultures people honour their deceased loved ones by just mourning and lighting up a candle, in Mexico, you will see a lot of rituals on this day that might seem a bit creepy.
The colour and paint play a major role in this tradition. It is important to colour your face and wear colorful clothing, as well as decorate the gravestones of those you’re celebrating. It is also common to have eerie-shaped snacks like the ones that look like a human skull. You also have to light up the graves with torches or candles. Otherwise, it is believed that your ancestors might curse you or haunt you in the afterlife.
4. Night of the Spirits in Romania
Romania is the literal center of all spooky and haunting occasions, so it is no surprise that traditions like the Night of the Spirits exist. It is celebrated on November 29th, on the eve of Saint Andrew.
On this day, people gather to pray so they can protect themselves from all the evil creatures that might be unleashed on earth, like witches, werewolves, and vampires.
5. China’s Ghost Festival
China’s Ghost Festival, which is called Zhongyuan in Chinese, is one of the spookiest traditions in the whole country. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh month according to the lunar calendar. This specific time is chosen because it is thought that this is when all the ghosts and evil creatures from hell can come to the world of the living. To avoid them terrorizing humans, people decided to honour them.
The rituals involve burning the offerings in bonfires, as well as making large feasts full of food. Another small ritual that may have strange underpinnings but looks beautiful is sending lanterns into the sky.
Bottom Line
As you can see, certain rituals to respect transitions can never fully go away, no matter how creepy they are. Some parts of society are scared to participate in them, but still take part in those rituals simply because their ancestors did the same for centuries. However, others enjoy the spooky parts of these traditions and fully dive in with joy. Either way, according to your beliefs, you can always decide if you would like to give these strange rituals a try or just witness people take part in them.
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