Celebrate Halloween Where it all Began: Ireland

If you’re past the appropriate age for trick-or-treat, consider giving yourself a treat this Halloween by traveling to the place where Halloween began: the Emerald Isle of Ireland.

Beginning in the fifth or sixth century, the Celtic harvest festival of Samhain marked the end of summer and the beginning of winter in what is now Ireland. As the seasons changed, the Celts believed that the dead were able to briefly return to the mortal world. They lit bonfires to ward off the cold and the darkness of the long nights, as well as the ghosts.

In the eighth century, Christians declared All Saints’ Day/All Hallows’ Day to be November 1 and the Celts began to celebrate Samhain each October 31. The festival became known as All Hallows’ Eve, a name that evolved to Halloween.

As in the U.S., modern Halloween in Ireland is celebrated with costumes, decorations, parties and trick-or-treating. Some parties are city-wide events: the Northern Ireland city of Derry is noted for its Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival. As many as 30,000 people congregate inside the historic district’s medieval walls for a grand carnival with live music and fireworks.

Dublin hosts a huge Halloween parade along O’Connell Street. After the parade, travel a few miles north of the city to tour Malahide Castle. The castle was recently refurbished, but according to legend, it is still “home” to five ghosts said to have haunted the historic structure for centuries.

In Dublin or the city of Belfast, you can take a Halloween Ghost Bus Tour, a very comfortable yet awesomely scary ride. You’ll hear gruesomely fascinating tales of jilted brides, prisoners, executioners, plague victims and other unsettled spirits believed to occupy haunted places in the city.

If you’re offered a slice of Bambrack Cake, look at it carefully before you take a bite. According to custom, there is a piece of rag, a coin and a ring in each of these traditional fruitcakes. If your piece has the rag, you might worry a little bit about your financial future. The coin is a sign of a prosperous year to come, and the ring signals a new romance, or continued happiness in your current romance.

Many other cities and towns throughout Ireland hold special Halloween events. To find out more about how you can be part of the fun, talk with your travel professional.

Enjoying the History and Beauty of New Zealand

New Zealand, with its relative isolation in the South Pacific, was settled by humans much later than other lands. Polynesians arrived in New Zealand around 1250 and developed the indigenous Māori culture; the first Europeans – explorer Abel Tasman and his crew – to reach New Zealand arrived in 1642, and James Cook mapped the coastline in 1769.

By 1840, New Zealand became a British colony for protection against other European nations that wanted to claim land there. The Constitution Act of 1852 established New Zealand as a largely-self-governing colony. In 1907, New Zealand became a completely self-governing dominion of the British Empire; and in 1947, 65 years ago, New Zealand became a sovereign state in the Commonwealth of Nations that honor Queen Elizabeth II as their constitutional monarch.

While New Zealand’s governance status has changed through the years, its status as one of the world’s most scenic places has not. The nation’s two main islands, North Island and South Island, offer vistas that are distinctively different and equally worth your time.

The North Island has forests of kauri trees, wonderful beaches and harbors, volcanic landscapes, geothermal features and the center of Māori culture.

The city of Auckland is home to nearly one-third of New Zealand’s population. This multicultural city is united by a love of sailing, evidenced by the approximately 135,000 yachts and launches in its marinas. Another must-see is the city of Rotorua, a center of Māori traditions that is also dotted with geothermal features such as geysers, bubbling mud pools and hot springs. The North Island also has eight major volcanoes, the most beautiful of which is the symmetrical cone of Taranaki.

The South Island is larger, less populated and more mountainous that the North Island. Much of the scenery is dominated by the beautiful Southern Alps, which stretch the length of the island.

Christchurch is the island’s urban center, but some of its major structures were badly damaged in recent earthquakes. Still, there is a lot to do and see in this British-influenced city, including lovely gardens, a variety of museums and art galleries, and striking Gothic Revival architecture.

The South Island also has New Zealand’s largest wine region, Marlborough, where you can sample fabulous Sauvignon Blanc. Visit the Kaikoura Peninsula for excellent whale- and dolphin-watching opportunities. Hiking trails lead up to panoramic views of the town from the Seaward Kaikoura Mountains.

Beaches, ski areas, adventure sports, deep sea fishing – not to mention excellent shopping and dining – are all ready to be enjoyed in New Zealand. To plan your trip, talk with your travel professional.