The 1st of November in Portugal is holiday and its called "O dia de todos os Santos" (all saints day).
In the VIII century the Catholic Church establish this day, mixing the catholic tradition with the pagan one - the Stamhain in Celtic tradition that latter was called Halloween. The word Halloween actually come from "all hallows day".
So the tradition says that in the 31st of October, the end of the Summer, the deads and the living people were more close, and the spirits came back to their houses to ask for food. To receive them, the families left food and drinks next to their doors. They did campfire and they use masks in the streets.
In Portugal this tradition is done on the 1st of November in a different way. Usually is done on country areas and basically is small groups of children that goes from door and door asking for food like dry cakes and candys. Latter people started to give some money as well.
When they arrive to the people's houses they have to screen "pão por deus" that means bread for God.
This tradition is disappearing every year more and more, especially because with the crisis people don't have that much to give and also because the Halloween started to take more credits then the old tradition.
Even though, in some places in the North and Centre of the country, they still do it and according to the tradition, the children collect their food in hadmade bags by their grandmothers. These bags are made with different pieces of different textile, re-using the waste of the sewing.
In the VIII century the Catholic Church establish this day, mixing the catholic tradition with the pagan one - the Stamhain in Celtic tradition that latter was called Halloween. The word Halloween actually come from "all hallows day".
So the tradition says that in the 31st of October, the end of the Summer, the deads and the living people were more close, and the spirits came back to their houses to ask for food. To receive them, the families left food and drinks next to their doors. They did campfire and they use masks in the streets.
In Portugal this tradition is done on the 1st of November in a different way. Usually is done on country areas and basically is small groups of children that goes from door and door asking for food like dry cakes and candys. Latter people started to give some money as well.
When they arrive to the people's houses they have to screen "pão por deus" that means bread for God.
This tradition is disappearing every year more and more, especially because with the crisis people don't have that much to give and also because the Halloween started to take more credits then the old tradition.
Even though, in some places in the North and Centre of the country, they still do it and according to the tradition, the children collect their food in hadmade bags by their grandmothers. These bags are made with different pieces of different textile, re-using the waste of the sewing.
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