Halloween is one of the most mystical holidays of the calendar year. Atmospheric pumpkins with candles, scary stories and children in wheelchairs dressed as ghosts are more common in European countries than in Ukraine. Find out in which European cities Halloween is celebrated on a large scale and in an original way and create your own itinerary for this October

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Halloween has been celebrated in Europe for several centuries on the night of 31 October to 1 November. Some people know it as Halloween, some as All Saints' Day, and some as the Autumn Harvest Festival. In the 19th century, it was said that the holiday had pagan roots - the Celts were the first to celebrate it, but later research proved that the holiday originated with Catholics. In Ukraine, the holiday is not so widespread, but many European cities have already started festive festivals, fairs and other events. Read the article to find out where to go this October to plunge into the spooky atmosphere.

Dublin (Ireland)

Ireland is rightfully considered the birthplace of Halloween, as it is here that the tradition of celebrating it was born. The ancient Celts considered 31 October to be the last day of the year, when the harvest was finished. It was believed that on the night of 1 November, the gates between the worlds opened and various evil spirits took to the streets. And in order to be accepted as one of them, you had to dress up in appropriate costumes.

Nowadays, people dress up as ghosts, collect sweets and throw parties. A favourite game on this day is snap apple: an apple is tied to a tree or door, and the player has to jump up and bite it off.

Pumpkins with candles inside can be seen at every turn. Previously, the main attribute of the holiday was made of potatoes or turnips, but the American tradition has made adjustments.

We recommend visiting St Michael's Church on the eve of Halloween. Parishioners say that ghosts are especially active on this day, so even tourists can hear rustling, knocking, and even feel the touch of ghostly hands.

By the way, it was in Dublin that the legend of the Halloween symbol, the ghostly Jack, was born, who puts a coal in a pumpkin and carries it on his head to light his way.

When you arrive in Ireland, be sure to try colcannon, a special Halloween dish made from cabbage, boiled potatoes and onions, and traditional apple pie.

For our ancestors, Halloween was called Veles's Night. We told you more about the holiday of ancient Ukrainians, its rituals, signs and modern traditions in our previous article.

Darmstadt (Germany)

Darmstadt is home to one of the most popular Halloween tourist attractions in the world - Frankenstein's Castle. On the night of 1 November, all visitors have to dress up in costumes of the inhabitants of the other world and join a large-scale event on the castle ruins. It is said that there are hundreds of ghosts here, so don't be so sure that you have met a disguised actor.

Here you can feel like a prisoner sentenced to death - sit in the electric chair, put your head on the guillotine, or visit the gallows.

According to one local legend, at midnight on Halloween, the ghost of the castle's owner, the long-dead madman Dr Frankenstein, appears in the ruins of the castle. None of those who retold the legend, however, could describe him, but that's not a big deal.

Currently (since September), a wide variety of Halloween paraphernalia is on sale in Darmstadt's shops - you can choose a pumpkin of your own taste, colour and material.

By the way, there are no ‘carolers’ here - for some reason, the tradition of collecting sweets on All Saints' Day has not caught on.

Helsinki (Finland)

You can go to Helsinki right now. All the streets look like something out of a traditional American October film. There are cobwebs, ghosts, skeletons and bats almost at every turn. And there are hundreds of pumpkins.

The film festival attracts most tourists to Helsinki. Naigt Visions takes place on 31 October and continues for several days, showing horror, fantasy and science fiction films. This year, Halloween falls on a Friday, but if you work on that day, don't worry: you can still admire spooky interiors and exteriors, watch horror films and enjoy baked pumpkin all weekend.

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Warwick (UK)

In Warwick, there is an ancient medieval fortress where you can literally plunge into history. The fortress is more than 1000 years old, and it opens its doors to visitors from 10 to 21 hours on 1, 2, 3, and 4 November.

But don't rush to buy tickets for everyday life: On 5 November, the Gunpowder Plot holiday begins here, which is a kind of continuation of Halloween. It is on this day that the rebel (his effigy) is symbolically burned and fireworks celebrate the victory of good over evil.)

Information for fans of mystical and romantic series: in the final part of the film series ‘Timeless: The Emerald Book’, the main battle with evil took place in this fortress.

Chalindre (France)

How about a witch festival? If you like witchcraft, head to Chalindre in France at the end of October to meet your ‘colleagues’. Every year, thousands of visitors gather here for Halloween, with fantastic performances, musicians, and fakirs lining the streets. And in Fort Cognelot, you can book a tour of the dark mystical labyrinths.

However, the history of this holiday is not as fun as its celebration. More than 5 centuries ago, a real hunt for beautiful and intelligent women who were considered witches began here. Thousands died, and their descendants still honour the memory of their great-grandmothers in this original way.

Findmore European destinations for Halloween celebrations here.

Please note! Before travelling to Europe, we recommend that you take care of your own safety and well-being. For most countries of the European Union, health insurance has long been a necessity, not a whim. Therefore, before planning a route to an unknown country and city, we recommend that you take care of your insurance. You can get it on the Visit Ukraine portal.

If you are staying in Ukraine for Halloween, we recommend that you check out our own TOP 10 places with a mystical and mysterious atmosphere. May your trip be successful.

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