Eat Fortune-Telling Bread in Ireland<\/h1>\n![\"Barmbrack](\"http:\/\/coawp-admin.fareportal.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Barmbrack.jpg\")
<\/a>Barmbrack, traditional Irish sweet bread<\/p><\/div>\n
Considering that Halloween<\/a> has historic roots in the Celtic tradition of Samhain, it makes sense to start our journey in Ireland. Here you can taste the barmbrack<\/a>, a special sweet yeast bread filled with grapes and raisins. which is supposedly able to predict the future of whoever consumes it.<\/p>\nBut how does this magic fruitcake work? Well, traditionally, baked into every barmbrack — commonly thought to mean “speckled loaf” in Gaelic — are little non-edible items with very specific fates attached to them. If you find a pea when you take a slice, you will not get married this year…which might be a blessing compared to finding a stick, which will curse you with a miserable marriage. A ring, on the other hand, is sign of a happy marriage.<\/p>\n
Other baked-in items include a small piece of cloth or rag, which dooms you to a life plagued with poverty or bad luck. The same can be said if you end up with a bean. But, find a coin and you’ll be blessed with endless wealth. Nowadays, owing to safety regulations, you’re more likely find small plastic toys, especially if you buy a piece of barmbrack at the store.<\/p>\n
Attend the Hungry Ghost Festival in China<\/h1>\n![\"burning](\"http:\/\/coawp-admin.fareportal.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/shutterstock_2306633463.jpg\")
<\/a>Hungry Ghost Festival<\/p><\/div>\n
Sometimes referred to as “the Chinese Halloween,” the popular Hungry Ghost Festival<\/a> takes place on the 15th night of the seventh month in the lunar calendar, which is designated as Ghost Month. But don’t let the name “Hungry Ghost Festival” fool you: these wandering spirits are not merely hungry for food…but also for care and affection as well! If you leave that eagerness for love unchecked, the ghosts can become nasty, evil specters. That’s why, during Ghost month, everybody in China opens their houses and leave out a meal — or even save empty spots at the table — for the undead. The festival is also celebrated in Singapore and Malaysia.<\/p>\nDuring the Hungry Ghost Festival, celebrants attempt to pacify the souls of the undead in every way possible. This includes burning incense and red candles, creating impromptu altars, providing ritual offerings, crafting floating lanterns, and joining in parades. The festival is believed to have originated from a legend focused on Mah\u0101maudgaly\u0101yana, a bright disciple of Buddha who wanted to feed and appease her hell-imprisoned mother.<\/p>\n
Celebrate Easter Witch in Sweden<\/h1>\n![\"Cute](\"http:\/\/coawp-admin.fareportal.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Easter-Witches.jpg\")
<\/a>Traditional Swedish Easter Witches<\/p><\/div>\n
Witches in Easter? You bet! Every Maundy Thursday — that is, the Thursday before Easter — Swedish children dress up as little witches (or p\u00e5skk\u00e4rringar<\/a>) <\/em>and knock their neighbors’ doors in search of candy. Sounds familiar? These witches, however, look anything but scary, with cute kerchiefs around their heads and rosy cheeks painted on their faces.<\/p>\nHow did this tradition come to be? Here comes the spooky part. According to legend, real witches liked to flee to the fabled island of Bl\u00e5kulla in order to party with the Devil himself on the Thursday before Easter. Although Sweden has a pretty scary history regarding witch trials, this charming tradition survives as an interesting way to spice up a traditional Christian holiday with a hint of Halloween spirit.<\/p>\n
Commemorate Du\u0161i\u010dky in Czechia<\/h1>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/coawp-admin.fareportal.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Shutterstock_2018460416-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nTime to go less festive and more solemn. As in many other European countries, in the Czechia it’s customary to attend cemeteries on the first days of November in order to visit the tombs of your loved ones. Visitors often bring flowers and light tea candles. But what makes du\u0161i\u010dky<\/em>\u00a0<\/a>an unusual practice is that some people bring chairs with them in order to talk with the undead. The idea is to “catch up” with the departed, closing the impassable abyss between the living and those who already left.<\/p>\nYou may also like: The Best Places to Celebrate D\u00eda de los Muertos in the U.S.<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nHide the Knives in Germany<\/h1>\n
<\/a>Barmbrack, traditional Irish sweet bread<\/p><\/div>\n
Considering that Halloween<\/a> has historic roots in the Celtic tradition of Samhain, it makes sense to start our journey in Ireland. Here you can taste the barmbrack<\/a>, a special sweet yeast bread filled with grapes and raisins. which is supposedly able to predict the future of whoever consumes it.<\/p>\n But how does this magic fruitcake work? Well, traditionally, baked into every barmbrack — commonly thought to mean “speckled loaf” in Gaelic — are little non-edible items with very specific fates attached to them. If you find a pea when you take a slice, you will not get married this year…which might be a blessing compared to finding a stick, which will curse you with a miserable marriage. A ring, on the other hand, is sign of a happy marriage.<\/p>\n Other baked-in items include a small piece of cloth or rag, which dooms you to a life plagued with poverty or bad luck. The same can be said if you end up with a bean. But, find a coin and you’ll be blessed with endless wealth. Nowadays, owing to safety regulations, you’re more likely find small plastic toys, especially if you buy a piece of barmbrack at the store.<\/p>\n Hungry Ghost Festival<\/p><\/div>\n Sometimes referred to as “the Chinese Halloween,” the popular Hungry Ghost Festival<\/a> takes place on the 15th night of the seventh month in the lunar calendar, which is designated as Ghost Month. But don’t let the name “Hungry Ghost Festival” fool you: these wandering spirits are not merely hungry for food…but also for care and affection as well! If you leave that eagerness for love unchecked, the ghosts can become nasty, evil specters. That’s why, during Ghost month, everybody in China opens their houses and leave out a meal — or even save empty spots at the table — for the undead. The festival is also celebrated in Singapore and Malaysia.<\/p>\n During the Hungry Ghost Festival, celebrants attempt to pacify the souls of the undead in every way possible. This includes burning incense and red candles, creating impromptu altars, providing ritual offerings, crafting floating lanterns, and joining in parades. The festival is believed to have originated from a legend focused on Mah\u0101maudgaly\u0101yana, a bright disciple of Buddha who wanted to feed and appease her hell-imprisoned mother.<\/p>\n Traditional Swedish Easter Witches<\/p><\/div>\n Witches in Easter? You bet! Every Maundy Thursday — that is, the Thursday before Easter — Swedish children dress up as little witches (or p\u00e5skk\u00e4rringar<\/a>) <\/em>and knock their neighbors’ doors in search of candy. Sounds familiar? These witches, however, look anything but scary, with cute kerchiefs around their heads and rosy cheeks painted on their faces.<\/p>\n How did this tradition come to be? Here comes the spooky part. According to legend, real witches liked to flee to the fabled island of Bl\u00e5kulla in order to party with the Devil himself on the Thursday before Easter. Although Sweden has a pretty scary history regarding witch trials, this charming tradition survives as an interesting way to spice up a traditional Christian holiday with a hint of Halloween spirit.<\/p>\n Time to go less festive and more solemn. As in many other European countries, in the Czechia it’s customary to attend cemeteries on the first days of November in order to visit the tombs of your loved ones. Visitors often bring flowers and light tea candles. But what makes du\u0161i\u010dky<\/em>\u00a0<\/a>an unusual practice is that some people bring chairs with them in order to talk with the undead. The idea is to “catch up” with the departed, closing the impassable abyss between the living and those who already left.<\/p>\n You may also like: The Best Places to Celebrate D\u00eda de los Muertos in the U.S.<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nAttend the Hungry Ghost Festival in China<\/h1>\n
<\/a>Celebrate Easter Witch in Sweden<\/h1>\n
<\/a>Commemorate Du\u0161i\u010dky in Czechia<\/h1>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nHide the Knives in Germany<\/h1>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/coawp-admin.fareportal.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/shutterstock_1198921807.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Cemetery](\"http:\/\/coawp-admin.fareportal.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Shutterstock_653959732.jpg\")
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