5 Bizarre Halloween Traditions You Didn’t Know About

Halloween—where we slap on a costume, stuff ourselves with candy, and pretend we’re not completely terrified of the world falling apart. But did you know our Halloween traditions are basically the boring, store-brand versions compared to what’s going down in other parts of the globe? Turns out, while we’re bobbing for apples (why though?), people around the world are doing some seriously weird stuff. Let’s dive into five Halloween traditions so bizarre, they’ll make you rethink your haunted hayride.

1. Austria’s ‘Bread for the Dead’

In Austria, they leave bread, water, and a lamp out for… dead people. Yeah, apparently ghost grandpa might want a midnight snack after wandering the underworld. I mean, sure, if you want to keep the afterlife’s version of DoorDash going, go for it. But let’s be real—if ghosts are coming back, they’re probably not craving stale bread and water. Maybe toss in a ghost-friendly charcuterie board? Just a thought.

2. Japan’s ‘Kawasaki Halloween Parade’

Imagine getting rejected from a Halloween parade. Yep, in Japan, you can’t just roll up in your last-minute Amazon costume. The Kawasaki Halloween Parade has an application process. Only the elite undead get to march down the street, which is kinda like Hunger Games, but for zombies. Forget the candy; I’d just want to make it in! But hey, at least if you get denied, you can drown your sorrows in Japan’s incredibly organized Halloween parties. Party on, just, not with the parade.

3. Ireland’s Barmbrack Cake

Leave it to the Irish to turn dessert into a horror show. Barmbrack is basically Halloween fruitcake, but with a twist: they hide random objects inside to predict your future. Find a coin? You’re rich. Find a cloth? You’re screwed. Find a ring? Hope you’re ready to get hitched. It’s like fortune cookies, but with a side of dental risk. Who knew eating bread could determine whether you’re getting married or filing for bankruptcy?

4. Czechoslovakia’s Chair of the Dead

Over in Czechoslovakia, it’s tradition to set up chairs for dead family members on Halloween night. You heard me—extra chairs. I get it, we love our ghosts, but honestly, who’s sitting in these chairs? Grandma’s ghost is just gonna float, no? Plus, this is prime horror movie setup: empty chairs, dark room, creaky noises. Sure, invite your dead relatives for some light dinner conversation; nothing says family bonding like an invisible entity at the table.

5. Germany’s Knife Ban for the Dead

Germany, the land of efficiency, takes Halloween ghost-safety very seriously. On Halloween night, they hide all the knives. Why? To protect the returning spirits from, you know, accidentally stabbing themselves. Because nothing ruins a good haunting like your dead great-uncle tripping over a butter knife. While I respect the concern, maybe if ghosts have been dead for centuries, they’ve figured out how to avoid sharp objects by now?

There you have it—five Halloween traditions that’ll make your pumpkin-carving look about as exciting as reheating last year’s candy corn. Next time you think your Halloween is weird, just remember there’s a family in Austria laying out bread for the undead or someone in Germany hiding knives from the ghost squad. And really, isn’t that what Halloween’s all about? Being just the right amount of freaky.