Are you ready for Halloween? At Fit 2 Trip we tell you the history of this festivity and recommend you some of the best places to celebrate it.
Halloween gets its name because it falls on the eve of All Hallows’ Day. It originated from the Celtic pagan festival of Samhain, which celebrated the end of the harvest, and during which time Gaels believed spirits came back to life to destroy their crops. They dressed up in costumes to protect themselves from spirits, and carved turnips to stop fairies from settling in their houses. As Irish immigrants moved to America in the 19th century, pumpkins replaced the humble turnip. Later, Christians would dress up as angels and demons, going door to door ‘souling’, asking for cakes in exchange for prayers.
Best Halloween Parades in the World:
New York’s Village Halloween Parade
Village Halloween Parade in New York is much more than just a colorful annual party, it is a city’s ritual and the greatest Halloween manifestation in the world, with over 50.000 participants every year. The 2018 theme is “I AM a Robot”, so expect the greatest public showing of cybernetic figures!
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Krewe of Boo, New Orleans’ official Halloween parade
Krewe of Boo became the official Halloween Parade in New Orleans in 2007, and it’s grown every year since! With floats constructed by Kern Studios, America’s premier float-building organization, the parade frightens and excites the crowds. Kern artists design 3-D papier mâché and fiberglass props that mimic all of Halloween’s spooky creatures. Special events and afterparties will occur throughout the weekend, such as the Zombie Run and Lucy’s Baloncy Bash.
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Macnas Halloween Parade in Galway, Ireland
Called “Out of the Wild Sky”, the 2018 edition celebrates transformation through fabulous theatrical performances featuring the signature Macnas giant creations and sculptural images.
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West Hollywood Halloween Carnival
One of the world’s largest Halloween street parties, West Hollywood Halloween Carnival takes place along Santa Monica Boulevard, where half a million people are expected to join in every year. Also called the Gay West Hollywood Halloween Carnival, the party is known as an LGBT-friendly event, but everybody is welcomed. Food trucks, artists, live music bands, DJ’s, celebrities, and six performing stages – they’re all part of this magical world of colors, energy, and eccentric characters.
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Oxaca, Mexico
Day of the Dead is a celebration of the dead and it is believed that spirits return each year on these three days to spend time with their loved ones. Each city and town offers a different way of celebrating Day of the Dead. In the cultural capital of Oaxaca you will find the streets transformed into a huge street festival where costumed people visit cemeteries and the town gets decorated with skulls, skeletons and flowers. Head to a panadería (bakery) for traditional Day of the Dead treats like pan de muerto (bread of the dead) and sugar-spun coffins.
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