ALBANIA: Once considered an American tradition, Halloween is now celebrated in Tirana

Record ID: 563072

  • Title: ALBANIA: Once considered an American tradition, Halloween is now celebrated in Tirana
  • Date: 5th November 2005
  • Summary: SOMEONE DISGUISED AS A GHOST ARRIVING FOR PARTY INSIDE SCHOOLYARD OF HIGH SCHOOL WIDE VIEW OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN HALLOWEEN DRESS DANCING, YOUNG PEOPLE WALKING IN FRONT OF CAMERA, TAKING THEIR MASK OFF GIRL DRESSED AS WITCH SCARY MASK MASK SHOWING BLOODY FACE OF VAMPIRE (SOUNDBITE)(Albanian) MAJOR DOCI, STUDENT, SAYING: "This is the night when the spirits are awaken, when the dead and ghosts walk down the streets. That's why adults and kids disguise themselves and create a Halloween atmosphere, with the pumpkins craved as frightening heads... We are trying to bring the celebration to Albania." (SOUNDBITE)(Albanian) EMI, STUDENT, SAYING: "It is an event celebrated all over the world, and in Albania as well. We are celebrating it in our school, and it's even organized by the school senate and the school headmaster!" YOUNG WOMAN WITH BLACK SCARF COVERING HER FACE PASSING IN FRONT OF CAMERA, JOINING GROUP OF YOUNGSTERS TO HAVE PHOTO TAKEN WIDE VIEW OF PEOPLE GATHERED AROUND A CRACKER GOING OFF
  • Embargoed: 20th November 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Albania
  • Country: Albania
  • Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA3YMZ6EK489RU9PX7S0JDNEMQ6
  • Story Text: Once considered an American tradition, Halloween is now celebrated in Tirana. Halloween as a festival actually has its origins in the Catholic Church, coming from a contracted corruption of All Hallows Eve.
    All Hollows Day, or All Saints Day, was when Catholics honoured their saints. Legend says that the disembodied spirits of all those who had died throughout the preceding year would come back in search of living bodies to possess for the next year. The Celts were supposed to believe all laws of space and time were suspended during this time, allowing the spirit world to intermingle with the living. As the religions rituals decreased, the tradition of dressing up as ghosts or evil creatures increased. In Albania, children and young people gathered at a party organised in the school yard.
    Disguised in ghost, vampires or witches, they danced the night away and opened a few crackers. "This is the night when the spirits are awaken, when the dead and ghosts walk down the streets. That's why adults and kids disguise themselves and create a Halloween atmosphere, with the pumpkins craved as frightening heads... We are trying to bring the celebration to Albania," explained student Major Doci. "It is an event celebrated all over the world, and in Albania as well. We are celebrating it in our school, and it's even organized by the school senate and the school headmaster!" enthused Emi.
    The custom of Halloween is said to have been brought to America in the 1840s by Irish immigrants fleeing the country's potato famine.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Footage contains identifiable children: users must ensure that they comply with local laws and regulations governing the publishing of this material.
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