7 Strange Halloween Traditions from Around the World

2. Bread and Water for Ghosts – Austria

Austria is a country with a deep religious heritage, and although there are some young people who celebrate an American-style Halloween complete with parties and candy, the majority of the country uses the week of October 30^th to November 8^th to celebrate Seelenwoche, or All Soul’s Week. During the week, families leave out glasses of water and a loaf of bread every night when they go to bed, which is thought to help encourage the spirits to return to Earth to join the week of celebrations.

November 1^st is All Saint’s Day, and most Austrians attend church, to celebrate the lives of the saints and martyrs of the Catholic Church, then use their time after the service to visit their family plot in the cemetery and clean up the graves. The next day it’s back to church for another mass, this time a Requiem for the souls of the recently departed in their own families. Afterward, candles are kindled in their memory. It’s definitely a more somber celebration that most American Halloween parties, but not without a certain morbid glamour.

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