On the Halloween’s eve we offer you 10 places around the world where the spirit of Halloween can be felt the best way possible.
1. Salem (Mass.), USA
This is the first place that comes to mind when talking about real American Halloween. Salem, which is just a 30 minute drive from Boston, is a perfect place to feel the holiday spirit! Enjoy your stay in this famous “witches city”. From the first to the last days of October numerous horror movies, haunted houses, witches and sorcerers’ parades, and even seances at tellers await you .
2. Bangkok, Thailand
On Halloween night, the streets, clubs, bars and restaurants of the Thai capital become the venue of mass celebration. In particular, the Silom Soi 4 district – a place which one can not fail to visit. As the saying goes, “Be there or be square!” And do not forget the costume: the more outrageous it is, the better!
3. Transylvania, Romania
It will be a challenge, which only the bravest will take, to survive the Halloween night in the country shrouded in the legend of Dracula. Touch the mysticism of these places inside the famous castle of Sighisoara, the birthplace of Prince Vlad Tepes. It is one of the many castles belonging to the XV century. Try to stay cool when you hear a suspicious noise or notice shadows striking fear even into the most skeptical ones.
4. Chalindrey, France
This small town near the Swiss border could be called the “European Salem” for its close ties to witchcraft. Here you can participate in the annual witch festival, touch Celtic heritage, do some Middle Ages dancing and explore the origins of witch hunts, dating back to the XVI century. In addition, the city is close to the terror-invoking Fort du Cognelot, otherwise referred to as the “Devil’s Point”.
5. Stonehenge, England
The origin of Halloween is due to the fact that the Celts who inhabited the territory of modern Britain and Ireland, believed that this night the border between the living and the dead disappeared. In order not to fall prey to evil spirits, a treat for them was left in the streets, while the Druids – Celt priests – made sacrifices in the woods near the fires. In some places, corpses were exhumed and placed throughout the city, which apparently led to the birth of the zombie myth. The mystery surrounding Stonehenge makes this archaeological site definitely one of the most suitable places to celebrate Halloween.
6. Mexico City, Mexico
During Halloween celebrations in Mexico, thousands of people flock to the cemetery, bringing flowers and food to the graves of the loved ones. A visit to the islands on Lake Patzcuaro, where the fog on the shore is mixed with mystery and aboriginal culture, will be an unforgettable experience for you.
7. Londonderry/Derry, Ireland
Ireland’s largest Halloween celebration is held annually in the town of Derry. For a whole week there are many events, such as, for example, owl exhibits, evening ghost stories, visiting the ancient galleon, and the Nerve Centre Cinema, which runs horror movies.
8. Berlin, Germany
In general, the Germans are very fond of this holiday. In recent years, the city is becoming more and more busy: everywhere there are people in costumes; clubs and premises of old libraries and city parks hold numerous themed parties. This is typical for the capital.
9. Evora, Portugal
Here is one of the chapels in the world that inspire fear. It is from here that you can start celebrating Halloween in Portugal. Built from the bones of more than 5,000 people, Capela dos Ossos, which in Portuguese means “The Chapel of Bones”, was built in the XVI century and is located near the church of St. Francis. The inscription at the entrance “Nós ossos que aqui estamos pelos vossos esperamos (We, the bones that are here, await yours)” and the phrase on the roof “Melior est die mortis die nativitatis (Better is the day of death than the day of birth)” can scare even the most fearless ones.
10. Kostnice v Sedlci, Czech Republic
The Sedlec Ossuary in the Czech Republic is also built on bones, and is scary even during the day, not mentioning Halloween night. To think of the huge chandelier made of skulls and bones in the middle of the room! This Gothic cathedral was built in 1400 in the center of a very popular European cemetery, which grew so much that there was no space to bury people there. In the end, it was decided to erect Kostnice, to store the remains of the dead there.
