Halloween, one of the world's oldest holidays, is still celebrated today in several countries around the globe.

The autumn rite is commemorated in the United Kingdom, although with a surprising and distinctive British twist. In Mexico, Latin America, and Spain, All Souls' Day, the third day of the three-day Hallowmas observance, is the most important part of the celebration for many people. In Ireland and Canada, Halloween, which was once a frightening and superstitious time of year, is celebrated much as it is here in the United States, with trick-or-treating, costume parties, and fun for all ages.

El Dia De Los Muertos
In Mexico, Latin America, and Spain, All Souls' Day, which takes place on November 2, is commemorated with a three-day celebration that begins on the evening of October 31. The celebration is designed to honor the dead who, it is believed, return to their earthly homes on Halloween. Many families construct an altar to the dead in their homes to honor deceased relatives and decorate it with candy, flowers, photographs, samples of the deceased's favorite foods and drinks, and fresh water. Often, a wash basin and towel are left out so that the spirit can wash before indulging in the feast.

Candles and incense are burned to help the deceased find the way home. Relatives also tidy the gravesites of their departed family members. This can include snipping weeds, making repairs, and painting. The grave is then decorated with flowers, wreaths, or paper streamers. On November 2, relatives gather at the gravesite to picnic and reminisce. Some gatherings even include tequila and a mariachi band! Celebrations honoring departed loved ones and family members are found as far back as ancient Egyptian times.


Guy Fawkes Day
On the evening of November 5, bonfires are lit throughout England. Effigies are burned and fireworks are set off. Although it falls around the same time and has some similar traditions, this celebration has little to do with Halloween or the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. The English, for the most part, stopped celebrating Halloween as Martin Luther's Protestant Reformation began to spread. As followers of the new religion did not believe in saints, they had no reason to celebrate the eve of All Saints' Day. However, a new autumn ritual did emerge. Guy Fawkes Day festivities were designed to commemorate the execution of a notorious English traitor, Guy Fawkes.

On November 5, 1606, Fawkes was executed after being convicted of attempting to blow up England's parliament building. Fawkes was a member of a Catholic group who wanted to remove the Protestant King James from power. The original Guy Fawkes Day was celebrated right after his execution. The first bonfires, which were called "bone fires," were set up to burn effigies and symbolic "bones" of the Catholic pope. It was not until two centuries later that effigies of the pope were replaced with those of Guy Fawkes. In addition to making effigies to be burned in the fires, children in some parts of England also walk the streets carrying an effigy or "guy" and ask for "a penny for the guy," although they keep the money for themselves. This is as close to the American practice of "trick-or-treating" as can be found in England today. Guy Fawkes Day was even celebrated by the pilgrims at the first settlement at Plymouth. However, as the young nation began to develop its own history, Guy Fawkes was celebrated less frequently and eventually died out.

Where It All Began
In Ireland, where Halloween originated, the day is still celebrated much as it is in the United States. In rural areas, bonfires are lit as they were in the days of the Celts, and all over the country, children get dressed up in costumes and spend the evening "trick-or-treating" in their neighborhoods. After trick-or-treating, most people attend parties with neighbors and friends. At the parties, many games are played, including "snap-apple," a game in which an apple on a string is tied to a doorframe or tree and players attempt to bite the hanging apple. In addition to bobbing for apples, parents often arrange treasure hunts, with candy or pastries as the "treasure." The Irish also play a card game where cards are laid face down on a table with candy or coins underneath them. When a child chooses a card, he receives whatever prize is found below it.

A traditional food eaten on Halloween is barnbrack, a kind of fruitcake that can be bought in stores or baked at home. A muslin-wrapped treat is baked inside the cake that, it is said, can foretell the eater's future. If a ring is found, it means that the person will soon be wed; a piece of straw means that a prosperous year is on its way. Children are also known to play tricks on their neighbors, such as "knock-a-dolly," a prank in which children knock on the doors of their neighbors, but run away before the door is opened.

Midwinter Incense - by: Anna Franklin

2 parts benzion
1 part willow wood
1 part crushed rowan berries
1/2 part periwinkle flowers
1/2 part lily of the valley flowers

The ratio of herbs to each other is more important in the recipe than the amount (although you should use enough to handle easily). In a bowl or with mortar and pestle, blend the benzoin with the willow wood, then add the crushed rowan berries. Add periwinkle and lily of the valley, mix well.

Self-igniting charcoal blocks are the best way to burn this kind of incense. Blocks can be obtained from most herbal and occult supply stores. Light the block with a match, and place in a dish or fireproof container. Sprinkle the incense on the charcoal block to burn it.

Brighid Incense - by: Anna Franklin

1 part birch bark
1 part willow bark
1 part oak park
1/2 part bistort root
1/4 part black berry leaves
1 part crushed rowan berries
1/2 part snowdrop flowers
1/4 part flax flowers

In a small bowl or with mortar and pestle, crush birch, willow, and oak bark together. Add the bistrort root and blackberry leaves and mix well. Blend in the crushed rowan berries, snowdrop flowers, and flax flowers.

Burn on a small charcoal block.

Spring Incense - by: Anna Franklin

3 parts frankincense
1 part benzoin
1/2 part pine resin
1/2 part bistort
1 part acacia
1/2 part bluebell flowers
1 part gorse flowers

In a bowl or with mortar and pestle, blend the frankincense, benzoin, and pine resin. Add acacia and bistort, mixing thorougly. Add crushed flowers last. Burn the incense on a small chorcoal block.

Divination Incense - By: Anna Franklin

2 parts white sandalwood
1 part hazel wood
1 part acacia
1/2 part calendula flowers
1/2 part bay
1/2 part clary sage
pinch of nutmeg

In a bowl or with a mortar and pestle, blend together the sandalwood, hazel wood, and acacia. Gradually add calendula flowers, bay, and sage, and stir until well mixed. Drop in nutmeg, and burn on a charcoal block.

Beltane Incense - by: Anna Franklin

4 parts frankincense
1 part oak bark
1/2 part sorrel
1 part hawthorn flowers
1/2 part primrose flowers
1/2 part apple blossoms

In a bowl or using a mortar and pestle, mix frankincense with oak bark. Add sorrel, hawthorn, primrose, and apple blossoms and blend well. Burn on a charcoal block.

Flower Incense - By: Anna Franklin

Take equal parts of the following:

Oak leaves
Nettle shoots
Burdock leaves
Broom flowers
Bean flowers
Horse chestnut blossoms
Meadowsweet flowers
Primrose flowers
Hawthorn blossoms
Blackthorn flowers
Corn cockle flowers

First crush oak leaves, nettle shoots, and burdock leaves together in a bowl or with a mortar and pestle. Then, add the flowers one by one and crush together until thoroughly blended.

Midsummer Incense - By: Anna Franklin

3 parts red sandalwood
1 part dried orange peel
1 part marigold petals

With mortar and pestle, crush sandalwood into a fine powder. Add dried orange peel and blend until thoroughly mixed. Finally, add ground marigold petals. Burn on a small charcoal block.

Lammas Incense - by: Anna Franklin

2 parts frankincense
2 parts benzoin
3 drops pine oil
1 part oak wood
1/2 part borage
1/2 part gorse flowers
1/2 part basil

In a bowl or with mortar and pestle, mix frankincense and benzoin, then add pine oil. Next blend oak wood and borage. Last, add crushed gorse flowers and basil. Burn on a charcoal block.

Autumn Incense - By: Anna Franklin

3 parts myrrh
1 part blackthorn wood
1 part rowan berries
1/2 part galangal
1/2 part chervil
1/2 part vervain
1/2 part parsley

In a bowl or with a mortar and pestle, crush blackthorn wood into myrrh and stir until well blended. Add rawan berries, galangal, and chervil into the mixture. Last, add vervain and parsley, and grind mixture until thoroughly blended. Burn on a small charcoal block.

Mabon Incense - by: Anna Franklin

2 parts benzoin
2 parts myrrh
1 part hazelwood
1/2 part corn
1/2 part cornflower
1/2 part ivy
1/2 part red poppy flowers

In a bowl or with mortar and pestle blend benzoin and myrrh with hazelwood. Next add the cornflower, and stir until thoroughly mixed. Crush dried corn and ivy into the mixture, and add poppy flowers. Burn on a small charcoal block.

Herne Incense - by: Anna Franklin

3 parts frankincense
3 drops oak moss oil
1/2 part pine resin
1 part oak bark
2 parts crushed juniper berries
1/2 part yarrow

In a bowl or with a mortar and pestle, blend frankincense, oil, and pine resin. Add oak bark, juniper berries, and yarrow, and crush together until well mixed. Burn on a charcoal block.

Yuletide Incense - by: Anna Franklin

3 parts frankincense
3 drops orange oil
3 drops juniper oil
1 part crushed juniper berries
1/2 part mistletoe leaves

In a small bowl or with mortar and pestle blend frankincense with orange and juniper oils. Add the crushed juniper berries and mistletoe, and mix until blended. Burn on a charcoal block. Mistletoe berries are poisonous when ingested, so exercise caution with any extra plant material.