{"id":5790,"date":"2014-10-26T15:57:15","date_gmt":"2014-10-26T15:57:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/?p=5790"},"modified":"2017-11-16T11:26:05","modified_gmt":"2017-11-16T11:26:05","slug":"halloweengermany","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/halloweengermany\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Halloween like in Germany?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Untitled\"<\/a>

Photo by brookpeterson on flickr.com under CC BY-ND 2.0<\/p><\/div>\n

In some ways, Hallowe\u2019en is the same in Germany as it is in the UK or the USA. You can expect nightclubs offering Halloween themed nights for adults, horror movies shown on TV, children dressing up and going trick or treating (although this aspect of Hallowe\u2019en is not as common in Germany as it is in the US).<\/p>\n

Although Hallowe\u2019en has no roots in German culture, there are a surprising amount of German traditions that are either similar to Hallowe\u2019en, or that occur on or around 31st<\/sup> October. Some have a religious meaning and others are more commercial. Read on to find out more about Hallowe\u2019en celebrations in Germany.<\/p>\n

RELIGION AND HALLOWE’EN IN GERMANY AND AUSTRIA
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Catholicism<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Seelenwoche: October 30th<\/sup>-November 8th<\/sup><\/strong>
\nBeing predominantly Catholic, Bavaria (Southern Germany) and Austria celebrate what is known as Seelenwoche <\/strong>(All Souls\u2019 Week) \u2013 during 30 October and 8 November. This is a week of remembrance in which people attend church services to honour the dead, and visit their family\u2019s graves with fresh flowers and lanterns. November 1st<\/sup> is known as All Saint\u2019s Day (Allerheiligen<\/strong>), on which banks, post offices and schools are closed \u2013 this is another reason why Hallowe\u2019en celebrations on 31st<\/sup> October are so popular! \u2013 and November 2nd<\/sup> is All Soul\u2019s Day (Allerseelen<\/strong>), when a special mass is said at church, and candles are lit in honour of the dead. This week also remembers the saints who have died for the Catholic faith.<\/p>\n

Protestantism<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Reformationstag \u2013 31st October<\/strong>
\nReformationstag is a protestant celebration remembering Martin Luther. It was on October 31st, 1517, that Martin Luther nailed The 95 Theses to the castle church in Wittenberg, Germany. In doing so, he started the Reformation – a time of religious and social change across Europe. \u2018Luther Bonbons<\/strong>\u2019 were created for people to remember Martin Luther in Germany on 31st October, so that Reformationstag was not overshadowed by Hallowe\u2019en.<\/p>\n

Totensonntag \u2013 November
\n<\/strong>Totensonntag, meaning \u201cThe Sunday of the dead\u201d, is the protestant version of Allerseelen (All Soul\u2019s Day), and is celebrated on the Sunday prior to the first advent Sunday. It is also known as Ewigkeitssonntag<\/strong> (Eternity Sunday).<\/p>\n

OTHER HALLOWE\u2019EN-LIKE CELEBRATIONS, HOLIDAYS AND EVENTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Burg Frankenstein, Darmstadt<\/strong>
\nThis is a 13th century castle located in Darmstadt, Hessen, alleged to be the inspiration for Mary Shelley\u2019s \u201cFrankenstein\u201d. It holds a special Hallowe\u2019en festival running from late October to early November, in which the entire castle is filled with gruesome shows and monsters, and you can explore it in its entirety. The castle is apparently haunted, too. It looks great. Click here<\/a> to go to the website!<\/p>\n

\"Walpurgisnacht<\/a>

A Walpurgisnacht celebration. Photo by michael-panse-mdl on flickr.com under CC BY-ND 2.0<\/p><\/div>\n

Walpurgisnacht \u2013 April 30<\/strong>
\nThis is a Halloween-like celebration celebrated in April, rather than October. It has its roots in German folklore; it is believed to be the night of a historic witches\u2019 meeting on the Brocken, the highest peak of the Harz mountains. There, it is said, the witches communed on April 30 to welcome the arrival of Spring. The celebrations of Walpurgisnacht involve bonfires, dancing, and dressing up in witches\u2019 and devil\u2019s outfits.<\/p>\n

St. Martinstag- November 11<\/strong>
\nTrick or Treating is called S\u00fc\u00dfes oder Saures <\/strong>(or S\u00fc\u00dfes, sonst gibt\u2019s Saures<\/strong>), but it is not as popular in Germany as it is in the USA or the UK. This may be because, 11 days after Hallowe\u2019en, children take part in the celebration St. Martinstag, where they go door to door singing songs with lanterns they have made themselves at school. They are then given sweets as a reward. St. Martinstag originated as a Catholic celebration in honour of Saint Martin, but is now celebrated across Germany even in protestant\/secular regions, obviously without the religious emphasis.<\/p>\n

K\u00fcrbis<\/strong>fest in Retz, Austria \u2013 Late October<\/strong>
\nThe K\u00fcrbisfest (Pumpkin Festival) is a commercial Hallowe’en celebration held in the town of Retz near Vienna each year. It includes a Halloween parade, pumpkins, costumes and parties. This is a family event. Click here<\/a> for the official website if you’d like to know more.<\/p>\n

GERMAN HALLOWE’EN VOCABULARY
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hallowe\u2019en \u2013 Hallowe\u2019en <\/strong>(taken from the English), or der Tag vor Allerheiligen<\/strong> (\u2018All Hallow\u2019s Eve\u2019)<\/p>\n

Pumpkin \u2013 der K\u00fcrbis<\/strong><\/p>\n

Trick or Treat – S\u00fc\u00dfes, sonst gibt\u2019s Saures<\/strong> (\u201cSweets, otherwise there\u2019ll be sours\u201d)<\/p>\n

Costume \u2013 das<\/strong> Kost\u00fcm<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sweet (one piece) \u2013 der Bonbon
\n<\/strong>Sweets (general) \u2013 die S\u00fc\u00dfigkeiten<\/strong><\/p>\n

To scare\/frighten – erschrecken <\/strong><\/p>\n

Lantern \u2013 die Laterne<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vampire \u2013 der Vampir<\/strong><\/p>\n

Witch \u2013 die Hexe<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ghost \u2013 das Gespenst<\/strong><\/p>\n

Zombie \u2013 der Zombie<\/strong><\/p>\n

***<\/strong><\/p>\n

I hope this post has given you an idea of what Hallowe’en is like in Germany. With that, all there’s left to say is Happy Hallowe’en, everybody! <\/strong>What are you dressing up as this year?! Top marks if you can answer me in German!!
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bis bald,<\/em><\/p>\n

Constanze <\/em><\/p>\n

x<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

In some ways, Hallowe\u2019en is the same in Germany as it is in the UK or the USA. You can expect nightclubs offering Halloween themed nights for adults, horror movies shown on TV, children dressing up and going trick or treating (although this aspect of Hallowe\u2019en is not as common in Germany as it is…<\/p>\n

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