Halloween - Haiti Observer Blog

Haitians may not celebrate Halloween but they do have a holiday called Ghede. This is the day of the dead, when Haitians remember their deceased relatives and ancestors every November 2. Some Haitians describe Ghede as a New Year celebration for the dead because of the festivities and activities during the holiday.

Ghede is a huge part of the Vodun tradition, which calls for celebration and tribute to Ghede spirits. Baron Samedi is the God of Death and the leader of Ghede spirits, which are among the pantheon of Gods called as Loa. Haitians pay their respects to Baron Samedi, who they see as the wisest adviser, protector of children and the last hope of the sick.

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While Haitians do not exactly celebrate Halloween, they have their own version of the holiday. It is called the Haitian Voodoo, a tradition wherein tributes are paid to dead ancestors on November 1, which is referred to as Fete Gede. It is believed that voodoo god Baron Samedi, who is always depicted as a man donning a black coat, a bowler hat, and a pair of eyeglasses with only one lens, always appears on that day. His wife Gran Brigitte holds the highest authority over cemeteries in Haiti.

To commemorate the tradition, Haitians troop to cemeteries to pay their respects to the dead every November 1. It is common for them to bring food, flowers, and rum with chili peppers at the cemeteries. The next day, Haitians will then honor the Catholic saints.

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The beginnings of Halloween we know and celebrate today began around the time of Christ, 2,000 or more years past. It is the second most profitable holiday for retailers, tracing its origins back to ancient Ireland and Scotland. Celtic priests, the educated Druid class, subscribed to a pagan belief system. On Samhain Eve, they celebrated the end of summer and descent into the dark months of the year, engaging in animal sacrifice and interpreting omens. They also sought guidance from occult influences to perform magic and heal the sick.

Christianity arose in the aftermath of Jesus' crucifixion and dominated northern Europe, until the Protestant Revolt. Before the Protestants banished Catholic traditions, Christian theology had co-mingled with Celtic traditions and created a Church holiday, All Hallows', or All Saints' Day today. Eventually All Hallows' shifted to the word Halloween.

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You would see a lot of "zombies" roaming around on Halloween. This is because these creatures are a popular choice for costumes during the holiday. A lot of people dress like zombies to join Halloween festivities in order to be as fearful as they can be. But what is it about zombies that associate them with the dark side? And where do zombies really come from?

First of all, zombies are depicted as people who were brought back from the dead. They are like monsters, eating people and turning them into zombies. According to the common story, zombies live in graves and are awaken during the night. They do not think or speak. All they do is hurt and eat people in their way.

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