On Friday, October 31, the world celebrates several holidays at once - from the fun and popular Halloween to the serious World Economy Day. In Ukraine, this date also has its own special traditions: according to folk beliefs, it is customary to cook chicken dishes on this day to protect against winter illnesses.
Halloween: the scariest holiday of the year
In most Catholic countries, October 31 is Halloween, or All Hallows' Eve. It is a day when children and adults dress up as evil spirits, carve jack-o'-lanterns, decorate their homes with spider webs and bats, and go trick-or-treating.
Halloween is celebrated most extensively in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, where it has long been a cultural tradition.
International dates
In addition to Halloween, October 31 marks World Savings Day, a UN initiative designed to remind people of the importance of being frugal with money, time, and natural resources.
Also celebrated today are Cities Day, Magic Day, Lemur Day, and Rice Day — all of which are designed to draw attention to the world's cultural and ecological diversity.
Church holiday
For believers who follow the New Julian calendar, this day honors Saints Spyridon and Nicodemus of Kiev-Pechersk, as well as Saint Peter the Long-Suffering of Zaporizhzhia.
According to the old style, October 31 is the day of the apostle and evangelist Luke.
In Ukraine - Black Sea Day
The official international holiday celebrated in Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and Georgia is Black Sea Day.
It was established in honor of the signing of the Strategic Action Plan for the Protection of the Black Sea Ecosystem. On this day, educational events, conferences and campaigns are held dedicated to the problems of pollution and the preservation of marine flora and fauna.
Folk omens on October 31
According to ancient beliefs, the weather on this day indicates what November and winter will be like:
-
if the water in the wells drops, it will rain;
-
birds are chirping - November will be warm;
-
the first snow heralds a mild December;
-
The cat is looking for a warm place - a cold snap is coming.
Once upon a time, poultry was taken care of at this time: chickens were moved to warm coops, and chalk was added to their feed. It was considered a good omen to eat a chicken dish - so as not to get sick for the rest of the year.
What can't be done
Folk omens warn: on October 31, you should not borrow money, apply for loans, and accept gifts from strangers. You should also not be lazy and refuse those who ask for help - this can lead to financial difficulties until the end of the year.
