How global festivals celebrate life, death, and memory

“How global festivals celebrate life, death, and memory”

As the days become shorter and nights longer, and autumn gives way to winter, the world lights up with myriad festivals that celebrate everything from the spooky and mysterious to the conquest of good over evil. While they take different forms and embrace unique rituals, at their core we find familiar beliefs of community, family, respect and tradition. Every year, Halloween kicks off this slate of light-bearing celebrations — that grand western holiday with its costumes, treats, kooky pumpkins…