October and November festivals

The end of October brings about many festivals and traditions as the northern hemisphere descends into winter; nights get longer, days get colder, and most harvests come to an end. However, Halloween is not the only theme for celebrations at this time of year, have a look below at some interesting festivals celebrated across the world in October/November.

1. The Morobe Show - Papua New Guinea

Every year over the October full moon weekend, residents of the Morobe Province of Papua New Guinea put on an event to showcase the variety of agricultural, industrial and commercial features of the province. The celebrations vary slightly from year to year and some of the highlights have been rodeo style events and motorcycle stunts.

2. Procession of The Lord of Miracles - Peru

In 1746 a devastating earthquake hit Lima and one of the few remaining structures was a wall with a mural depicting the crucifixion of Christ, painted earlier in the century by an African slave. When people saw that it had survived, they called it a miracle and renamed the painting Señor de los Milagros - The Lord of Miracles. Now, every year this event is celebrated with a procession following a replica of the painting through the streets of the capital. Incense is burned and worshippers wear purple as they march along with the painting. It is celebrated on the 18th and 19th October, and then on the actual anniversary of the earthquake, 28th October.

3. Pangangaluluwa - The Philippines

The most Halloween-type tradition on this list is Pangangaluluwa in the Philippines, also celebrated on 31st October. Teenagers and children go from house to house singing to remember the departed in exchange for gifts. Nowadays it is only practised in rural areas, and in the town of Sariaya, children take a more modern and Western approach by dressing up in scary costumes and trick-or-treating. On the 1st and 2nd November people visit cemeteries to pay respect by lighting lanterns.

4. Bon om touk - Cambodia

During the November full moon, Cambodia’s Bon Om Touk which celebrates the reversing flow between the Tonle Sap lake and the Mekong River. For most of the year the lake empties into the river but during the monsoon season, the Mekong River spills its banks and reverses the flow, filling up the Tonle Sap ten-fold. Once the rainy season ends in November, the Tonle Sap returns to its usual size and the flow of water returns to normal. The festival has been celebrated for centuries as a way for Cambodians to give back to a river that has provided so much for them. The celebration lasts three whole days with the main event the racing of long, colourful boats, followed by carnivals and performances in the evening.

5. Día de los Muertos - Mexico

Every year on the 1st and 2nd November (All Saints and All Souls days), the dead temporarily return to earth and celebrations are held. Unlike Halloween, Día de los Muertos is an explosion of colour and joy, a party to remember loved ones. People dress up as skeletons as they parade through the streets and sugar skulls with colourful icing are sold all across Mexico. Today’s festivities are a mash-up of pre-Hispanic religious rites and Christian feasts. In 2008 it was recognised by UNESCO for its cultural importance and added to their Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.