About Days of darkness

The festival lasts a whole week at the end of October and/or the beginning of November. It is held shortly after or around the first day of winter (always between October 21st and 28th), and Halloween, October 31st, is part of the festival. 

During this time, the ancient Nordic people held large gatherings and feasting festivals called winter nights and Dísablot. This was a transition time; summer turned into winter, and it was possible to sense the afterlife and see ghosts and elves. With the adoption of Christianity, the celebration moved to November 1st and was called All Saints’ Day. Elsewhere, such as in Ireland and Scotland, celebrations at the beginning of winter revolved around remembering those who had died. Later, these celebrations spread to America with immigrants; today, they are what we know as Halloween. 

The Days of Darkness is a modern version of the celebrations at the beginning of winter. With them, we give thanks for the summer and greet the winter. We celebrate darkness, the supernatural, romance, and old customs in various ways. Residents are encouraged to participate, and the impetus for events and gatherings comes primarily from them.