Sugar Skulls, Candles And Slots
You’re packed full of sweets, putting away that dreaded costume and you’re pretty certain you never want to see a pumpkin ever again. Halloween is over, and personally, at CasinoEuro we’re lamenting the fact that we can’t dress up as skeletons every day, but we know there’s always something else right around the corner.
Day Of The Dead Traditions Around Europe
You’ve probably all heard about Day of the Dead, otherwise known as All Saints Day here in Europe. You’re no doubt more familiar with the bold and beautiful Día de Muertos in Mexico. This multi-day holiday tradition is about so much more than the gaudy calaveras (sugar skulls) and groaning platters of food. Underneath the colour and the noise, it’s actually a humble coming together of family and friends to remember their loved ones and to help them on their spiritual journeys.
This softer, more traditional side to the beginning of November and the celebration of life is gaining popularity all over Europe, with unique traditions popping up across all corners of the continent. To outsiders, these traditions can seem morbid and sometimes, downright bizarre. But we took some time away from the office to uncover what really goes on in Europe during this solemn occasion.
Allerseelen, Gemany
Allerheiligen (All Saints Day) is what’s known in Germany as a silent holiday, where dancing and loud music are strictly forbidden in public spaces (Phew!). Allerseelen or All Souls Day is celebrated with the lighting of unique, cone-shaped candles known as Newweling and visiting the churchyards, starting from the afternoon of Alletheiligen.
Zaduszki, Poland
Over 90% of Poles celebrate this day in one form or another, and as many as two-thirds of these will travel out of town to pay their respects, thus causing traffic chaos. The local media publish handy survival guides for Nov 1 – 2 for avoiding crowded streets, jammed public transport, and routes that divert around cemeteries for those who don’t want to get caught up in it.
Day of the Dead, UK
Always eager for a street party, the Mexican flavour of the Day of the Dead will be hitting the UK’s towns and cities this month, ending in Manchester. This carnival-style celebration will include everything from pageants to giant processions of skulls, acrobats and art. Sombre indeed.
Dusicky, Czech Republic
The Czechs may be mostly secular, but their dedication to All Souls Day is hard to beat. Generations of families visit cemeteries, laying flowers until the ground is literally carpeted. With great respect and reverence, the Czechs are keen to keep the traditions of Dusicky strong. Yet in Prague you’ll more than likely run in to the festive side of this event, as the Mexican Embassy encourages locals to host their own Día de Muertos, complete with masked events, sugar skulls and more. These festivities can go on for three days.
If you’ve never heard of any of these traditions, it’s probably because you were too busy knocking on doors asking for sweets. And if you still don’t feel like lighting candles and find graveyards a little creepy, then we’ve got a few slot games that will see you through the month that everybody dreads (er, because it’s the one before Christmas, obviously. Oh, did you forget about that?)
Our Top Día de Muertos Inspired Slots
Grim Muerto
Grab your trumpets and your guitarrons, as this slot gets you joining the parade. Grim Muerto is another Mexican-inspired slot with its own Mariachi band and a host of features for you. This 5×3 reel slot features the low-paying symbols A, 10, J, Q, K as well as the four delightful Mariachi symbols. During Free Spins, one of these fellas becomes Extra Wild, helping you on your way to bigger and better wins. Another special symbol is the book featuring the skull and the rose. Get three book Scatter symbols to activate 10 Free Spins.
Landing two of these Scatters activates the Second Chance feature, where you choose your favourite Mariachi symbol to reveal a reward.
If you trigger three creepy candles, then you’ll be awarded with more Free Spins. Two candles award you with three free spins, whilst three candles treat you to six free spins. Each big win is accompanied by a song and you’ll be satisfied to hear the jingle of coins land in your balance.
With a host of extra features and plenty of chances for Free Spins, this slot is one to sing about.
Pumpkin Smash
One of our newest releases from Yggdrasil, Pumpkin Smash transports you into a world of bright fiestas and serene sights in Pumpkin Smash. Featuring a charming intro and fantastic soundtrack, we love everything about this game. With 20 paylines and five reels, the layout and play of this slot is uncomplicated: just the way we like it. The lower paying symbols consist of card suits, while the higher paying sugar skulls are the ones you should look out for.
The highlights of this game have to be its Pumpkin Smash Bonus Game, where you can get massive rewards every time you land two to five bonus symbols on the reels. You’ll be awarded the corresponding number of pumpkins holding vast secrets. You could win:
– From seven up to a super 32 Free Spins.
– Multipliers up to 7x your bet (awarded if you also win Free Spins).
– 60 up to 7,500 coins.
So, look out for those pumpkins before you start carving. This game is a fantastically unusual combination of Halloween and Latin American delights, and one which we’re certain you’ll be adding to your list of favourites.
Fortunes of the Dead
A newcomer from NextGen is this charming if not a little overwhelming slot game. If bold, engaging graphics are your thing then you’ll get to grips with this game in no time. You’ll definitely be feeling festive when you hit a big win, with the iconic guitars sure to get you moving in your seat.
A 5-reel, 3-row slot, Fortunes of the Dead contains all of the symbols you need for a Day of the Dead fiesta; from sugar skulls and candles to bowls heaving with offerings.
There are also plenty of bonuses, including the Sugar Skull bonus feature. Land these fellas on reels one, three and five and you’ll get to pick from three skulls for your reward. Another bonus feature is the skull and horse Scatter, awarding five free games with every three scatter symbols on reels two, three and four.
If you’re into mystery, then never fear, as this fun slot includes a Once In A Wild bonus that can be triggered at any time and awards a re-spin with four Wild symbols placed randomly on the wheels. This can be awarded simultaneously with the Skull bonus, maximising your potential for those dancing wins.
Now we’ve sparked your curiosity and enhanced your knowledge about these events and our themed slots, what will you be doing this November?
