In ancient Ireland, the Celts believed that during fall equinox, the realms between the living and the dead became blurred. The tradition of Halloween originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts and spirits.
Fête Gede, or “Festival of the Dead,” is one of the most important celebrations in the Voodoo religious calendar. In Haiti the event, which is commemorated yearly on the first and second days of November (All Saints Day and All Souls day respectively), is marked by converging on cemeteries to honor Haitian ancestors with rituals and sacrifices.
Hope everyone has a happy autumn equinox!