Hallow-Read Around the World | Great River Regional Library

Spooky season is upon us!

In the U.S., Halloween is a holiday full of merrymaking, magic, and mischief. Many cultures celebrate life and death through rituals and celebrations with their communities. Learn about the origins and practices of various Halloween-like traditions around the world. Read all month long and complete activities to earn badges.

"Hallow-Read Around the World" is a challenge for all ages on our Beanstack app! The challenge runs the duration of the month, October 1st through 31st.

When you sign up for this Beanstack challenge, you will learn about festivals across the world including the following:

Awuru Odo, which is celebrated by the Northern Igbo people in Nigeria, welcomes spirits with feasts into their families homes.
Day of Dracula is where Romanians believe vampires and "strigoi" (the undead) come out to fight and dance.
Día de los Muertos, meaning “Day of the Dead,” which originated in Mexico, honors ancestors with offerings.
Gai Jatra, which originated in Nepal, is a time to celebrate and laugh for families who've lost loved ones.
Pchum Ben, which is one of the most important holidays in Cambodia, honors the cycle of life for 15 days.
Pitru Paksha, once a time to honor the Indian God of Death (Yama), is a 16-day period for Hindus to prepare offerings to their ancestors.
Obon Festival, or “Festival of Souls,” is celebrated in Japan to honor one’s ancestors.
Samhain, a Celtic festival in Ireland and Scotland, is believed to be the time the veil between the living and the dead is the thinnest.
Walpurgis Night, a European and Scandinavian festival, commemorates the gathering of witches.
Yulanpen, or “Hungry Ghost,” a traditional Buddhist and Taoist celebration, helps restless spirits find peace.

Each festival has an activity or books to read (kids, teens, and adults) to have fun during the season and learn about the origins and practices of Halloween-like traditions.

Learn more about the Beanstack app here.