When is Halloween in 2021 in Russia: traditions of celebration

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

When Halloween is celebrated in Russia in 2021, many shopping and entertainment outlets will organize various events, celebrations and even discount promotions. Although it is believed that this holiday has not taken root in Russia (according to statistics, only about 3% of the population have celebrated it since the 90s), people take part in fun and mystical rituals with pleasure.

history of the holiday

Halloween began to be celebrated in the pre-Christian era. The ancient Celts divided the calendar into two periods - summer and winter, and October 31 was their border. It was believed that it was on this day that the doors to the world of the dead were opened. The souls of the departed come out to living people. In order not to be captured by the dark forces, it is necessary to burn fires in order to protect against misfortunes, to leave treats to the ghosts.

It was then that the tradition arose to cut a head from a turnip or pumpkin and put the coals of a sacred fire inside. With the adoption of Christianity, the Celts moved away from the pagan triumph, and it faded into the background. The revival of the holiday fell on the period of the spread of Catholicism. Halloween's sinister reputation in the Middle Ages was given by Christian monks.

The essence of the holiday is in opening the doors to the world of the dead. Lighting fires and treats left to ghosts protected people from adversity. A pumpkin lantern was put on the porch. Homeless people knocked on houses and asked for food, in return asking for the names of the deceased in order to pray for the peace of their souls.

From then until now, Halloween has been celebrated on October 31st, and 2021 will be no exception. Even now it is customary to prepare treats for the holiday, the main of which is pumpkin and pastries in the form of body parts, skulls and crosses.

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Rites and traditions

To protect themselves from the intrigues of dark forces, people performed the rite of sacrifice in the form of kindling any fire, be it a fire or an icon lamp. Due to the transformation of the dark force into the image of a person, plant or animal, it was impossible to find out exactly where it is located. Most often, the people were afraid of cats. In order not to catch the eye of ghouls, vampires and witches, people began to dress in various costumes. The predominant colors were red and black. The outfits were made in the form of hooded robes.

The main attribute is a pumpkin lamp with carved eyes and mouth and a candle inserted inside. The flashlight was named Jack. They put him on the porch, the poor went from house to house and asked for food, in return by all means asking the names of the dead and praying for their souls.

Today, mostly children go to their homes, ring the doorbell and say the words "sweet or nasty". If they receive a treat, they thank and leave; if they hear a refusal, they may stain the door with toothpaste or hide the rug in revenge.

On a holiday, it is customary to guess: for example, throw an apple peel in the back and thus find out the name of the betrothed. Lighting a candle, they tried to make out the image of a loved one in a mirror reflection. Contemporary celebrations include scary rides, costumed processions and fireworks.

Treats

There must certainly be a pumpkin on the festive table. On Halloween, it is customary to cook various sweets (toffee, syrups, cookies) and treat them to children. Irish Raisin Bread is a special treat. Traditional treats include caramelized apples and body parts baked goods. It is customary to prepare main dishes from fruits and vegetables; they are just in abundance this season. Peas, coins, fabric and chips must be added to the dough.

Each item has its own meaning:

• Peas - this year the girl is not destined to get married, but the young man is not to marry.
• A sliver is a nuisance in the family.
• Coin - to financial well-being.
• Fabric - to lack of money and difficulties.
• Ring - for an imminent wedding.

In the modern world, they no longer react so sharply to signs and predictions, turning everything into funny entertainment.

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Features of the celebration

Knowing what date the holiday is, fans of this event can thoroughly prepare for it by decorating their home with the symbols of the other world, which include skulls and crosses, figurines and pumpkins. Inside the house they make artificial spider webs and place various attributes from horror films, cut out bats from paper. The predominant colors are orange and black. Students have fun organizing pranks and carnivals.

In Russia, the holiday is mainly celebrated by young people who grew up on Disney cartoons and English-language cinema.

Signs

Like any holiday, Halloween has its own signs, superstitious people always pay attention to them:

• A spider in the house means that somewhere near the soul of the deceased. She appeared to warn of impending trouble.
• Extinguished candles speak of evil spirits walking nearby.
• A flock of bats - for a good harvest.
• An owl sitting on the roof of a house is a disaster. So that nothing bad happens, it is better to drive her away.

If a black cat lives in the house, it is temporarily put out the door in order to protect the home and its inhabitants from adversity.

The atmosphere of the holiday is added by mystical music, games with elements of horror stories and symbolic gifts: key rings and figurines in the form of skeletons and pumpkins.

Outcomes

Remembering when Halloween is in 2021 is not difficult at all. In Russia and other countries, the holiday is celebrated on October 31. Its main essence is to blur the boundaries between the worlds. People associate this day with rampant evil spirits, although it was originally considered puritanical.