Actually it is Halloween vs All Hallow's Eve and in the case of Hungary Halloween is rather seen as a rival to All Souls' Day but these holidays are so mixed up in the minds of people that somehow All Saints' Day and Halloween got contrasted. But let's see what these holidays mean to Hungarians:31st October Halloween / Halloween (All Hallows' Eve)
Traditionally not celebrated in Hungary. Nowadays it is becoming popular thanks to meadia and commercial influence. For example international hypermarkets such as Tesco and Auchan started selling Halloween decoration, today almost all stores have some halloweeny stuff.
Some people decorate their homes for Halloween but it is generally not common to take part in costume parties and children don't go trick-o-treating. Some costume parties are organised in Budapest but they are mostly full of foreign people. Some Hungarian teenagers and some university students also take part in such parties but they are often not dressed in costumes. Somehow it would be weird for Hungarians to party when the atmosphere of All Souls's day (Halottak napja, which literally means "day of the dead") is approaching. Some people though carve pumpkins, and groceries are also reacting to this new trend by selling Halloween pumpkins suitable for carving. Hungarians consume squash and that is not so suitable for carving. They are too small and their skin is too thin and weak. Nevertheless, sometimes you can see jack-o'-lanterns carved from squashes. Many schools where English is taught as a foreign language have some sort of Halloween celebration or children learn about Halloween at least in the framework of an English lesson.
Some Christian churches in Hungary are against celebrating Halloween (with witches and demons) as it is considered a pagan tradition. Protestants emphasize the Reformation Day instead. Nevertheless, I think that it is not the opposition of the churches what hampers Halloween becoming widespread, but the solemnity of visiting cemeteries on All Saints' and All Souls' Day and also that Halloween is seen by many as a hallmark holiday or even as a dangerous threat of loosing our culture due to the effects of globalisation. Nowadays we can find many articles and blog posts debating which holiday to celebrate not just contrasting Halloween and All Souls' Day but also contrasting Halloween and farsang (carneval where children dress up in costumes). An interesting synthesis of Halloween and All Souls' Day is when you can see jack-o'-lanterns on tombs (not very frequently though). No matter what, with Halloween gaining influence Hungarians start to reflect more on their own culture and there are also attempts to reach back to old Hungarian folk traditions. For example this article suggests baking pastry together with friends and giving it away either to friends or to the poor. http://www.nlcafe.hu/ezoteria/20101101/2_halottak_napi_nepszokas_amit_erdemes_kiprobalnod/
1st November Mindenszentek / All Saints' day (All Hallows' Day)
Bank Holiday in Hungary. But cemeteries are open.
2nd November Halottak napja / All Souls' Day
In Hungary it is a day for remembrance, taking flowers and candles to the graves of our deceased relatives. Originally a Christian holiday but today non-religious people also observe it. Cemeteries are usually full of visiting relatives already on 1st November which is a bank holdiay, whereas the 2nd November is not.
Interesting: This website is a modern interpretation of All Souls' Day. People can light virtual candles for the deceased. http://www.gyertyalang.hu/
Vocabulary:
töklámpás - jack-o'-lantern
tök - pumpkin or squash
temető - cemetery
temetői járat - speacial buses or any public transportation vehicles that go to the cemeteries on and around All Souls' Day
gyertya - candle
mécses - candle ( comes usually with some plastic, aluminium or glass holder)
koszorú - wreath
krizantém - chrysanthemum ( This flower is the most popular for taking it to the cemetery, don't give this as a present to your girlfriend, mother-in-law etc. That would be rude.)
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