With the start of the fall season, Halloween feels just right around the corner. Celebrated in many places across the world, this holiday is not just about dressing up spooky and trick-or-treating. Yes, costumed as would-be witches and ghosts are fun, but travelling to places that embrace the eeriness of supernatural beings seems like a real spine-tingling adventure. Marked on the eve of October 31, Halloween is indeed related to witches. Wiccans and witches commemorate it as Samhain, a sacred day that celebrates death, the end of summer and the harvest season, and also the origin of Halloween and the Celtic New Year.
If you are a Halloween enthusiast, looking for a mythical adventure associated with all things witchy, consider visiting these 5 places worldwide to celebrate the real spookiness.
Salem, USA
A historic coastal city, Salem is located in Massachusetts, USA. Famous for its witch trials – a series of hearings and prosecutions that resulted in the conviction of 19 alleged “witches” to be hanged for practicing witchcraft between 1962 and 1963. The city embraces its dark history and celebrates the festival of Halloween with Haunted Happenings throughout October. When in Salem, you can visit the Salem Witch Trials Memorial, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem Witch Museum, the Witch House, the Old Burying Point Cemetery, and the House of the Seven Gables.
Kilkenny, Ireland
A gem of Ireland, Kilkenny City has a long-storied past with witchcraft. It was the site of the country’s first witch trial when Dame Alice Kyteler flew from Ireland after being accused of practicing magic in 1324, ultimately leading her maid, to be charged in her place. Today, the 400-year-old city is indeed very lively. If you plan to visit Kilkenny, do not miss Kilkenny Castle, Nore Valley Park, Kyteler’s Inn, and Rothe House and Garden.
Harz Mountains, Germany
The Harz Mountains aka The Harz, is the most northerly highland area and the land of fairytales in Germany. In legends of witchcraft, it is said that witches meet for Walpurgis night (the night of 30 April and the day of 1 May) on Brocken Mountain. Fans of folklore can take the Brockenbahn train to the top of the Brocken and visit nearby villages including Wernigerode, Stiege, and Thale.
Lima, Peru
The capital of Peru, Lima has many witch-related attractions. As shamanism and witchcraft have long roots in the country, Halloween time in Peru is an interesting blend of traditional and modern celebrations with “Noche de Brujas” – The Night of Witches. When in Lima, you can check out attractions including the Witches’ Market and travel to Cachiche aka the “Witches’ Village”.
Cornwall – England
A ceremonial county in South West England, Cornwall has a deep history with witchcraft. From accusations to satanism, European witch trials are well known for witnessing dozens of heinous acts in the seventeenth century. When in Cornwall, immerse yourself in witchy magic by visiting Witch’s Tower, the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, Eden Project, and Bodmin Jail.
View this post on Instagram
Images: Pinterest
