How Halloween Is Celebrated Around The World

As Halloween is upon us, have you ever wondered how other countries celebrate.

The spookiest day of the year is almost here…

People tend to believe that Halloween came from America as it is an American holiday, but the origin of Halloween came from the festival of Samhain among the Celts of ancient Britian and Ireland some 2,000 years ago, with the new year believed to begin on 1 November.

Halloween on 31 October is a day for remembering the dead followed by All Saints Day on 1 November.

Here is how some countries celebrate Halloween:

China

Halloween has definitely grown in China because of popular culture and social media. It’s used a lot more in commercial settings by shops and bars, or to come to Halloween events. Other than that, children don’t really go trick or treating.

France

The French don’t tend to celebrate Halloween. Busuu experts highlight that while France is a secular country, it still has a big Christian influence and Halloween is overshadowed by Toussaint – All Saints’ Day – where people traditionally visit the cemetery.

When it comes to fun for the children, some will be trick or treating, but not many households will have sweets ready to give out.

Germany

Like the UK, Germany seems to have adapted more to the idea of Halloween in recent years and it’s mainly youngsters who are likely to celebrate it. The Halloween vibes are definitely met with spooky decor, pumpkins and fancy dress. Kids also do all of the traditional Halloween activities, like trick or treating.

Haiti

Across the pond, Haitians celebrate Halloween by throwing Fet Gede, also known as the Festival of the Dead.

Taking place on November 1 and 2, Haitian Vodouisants gather to honour Baron Samedi, coined as the father of departed spirits.

In this vibrant celebration, Voudoisants dance through the streets, connecting with their deceased loved ones. They also visit graveyards, where they offer food from their own tables to nourish their ancestors.

Ireland

In Ireland, Halloween historically came from Samhain or All Hallowtide, which is known as a pagan Irish festival that marks the end of summer.

Barmbrack, which is a cake filled with dried, fried and candied citrus, is the main star of this festival.

Bakers participate in a fascinating ritual by incorporating a ring, a small piece of cloth, and a coin into the Barmbrack.

It is said that each token carries a specific meaning for the person who discovers it in their slice of cake.

Finding the ring foretells marriage or happiness, and uncovering a cloth suggests uncertain financial prospects, and discovering a coin promises a year of prosperity.

Italy

Italy is another country that is slowly becoming more open to the idea of Halloween like the UK and Germany. If you’re looking to spend Halloween in Italy one of the years then you may want to head to one of its larger cities where there will be tons of fancy dress parties.

Japan

Halloween is as much of a thing as Christmas in Japan and it’s treated like more of an event – people will get together in the centre of Tokyo at the famous Shibuya Crossing. They use it as an excuse to dress up and throw parties. Parents also get together so that all of their kids can safely go trick or treating.

Mexico

Dia de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is celebrated in Mexico on November 1 and 2.

Contrary to its name, this holiday pays tribute to life, joy and vivid colours, and seeks to express love and respect for departed family members.

What sets this particular holiday apart from other Halloween traditions around the world is the unique custom of making offerings to honour loved ones.

This involves families constructing temporary altars as a tribute to their ancestors, which are adorned with sugar skulls, bottles of tequila, marigolds, and photos of the dead.

The aim of these offerings is to entice the spirits back to the world and allow them to reunite with their living family.

The Netherlands

The traditional celebration of Halloween is a delayed affair in the Netherlands.

On November 11, the Dutch get together and celebrate Sint-Maarten, which is a children’s feast day that shares similarities with American Halloween. On the evening of this day, children roam the streets, much like trick-or-treaters.

They carry lanterns and knock on doors, signing to their neighbours hoping to be treated with candles.

Poland

Halloween isn’t a big celebration in Poland. All Saints’ Day is and families will go to the cemetery together, where it’s known to become very busy and packed. Experts actually say that it’s as busy as rush hour on the London tubes!

Portugal

Dia das Bruxas, also known as Day of the Witches, is the Portuguese equivalent of Halloween and shares many of the day’s traditional origins.

Like Halloween, Dia das Bruxas includes the popular custom of trick-or-treating, although Portuguese children take the healthier option of asking for bread, fruits and nuts instead of candy.

Families also mark the occasion by visiting the graves of deceased loved ones, adorning them with flowers and candles as a tribute to their ancestors.

Spain

Protective over their traditions, Spain tends not to celebrate Halloween, and sees it as an American tradition. Youngsters may go to Halloween parties hosted by clubs and school kids in bigger cities may go trick or treating, but the event isn’t widely celebrated by all.

Horror marathons are also shown on tv around this time, but typically All Saints’ Day is a much bigger deal on 1 November. Like France, this is also taken as a bank holiday and people will visit the cemetery to honour the dead.

Turkey

Halloween in Turkey is also a reason for youngsters to drink and throw parties and even then, the fancy dress is minimal.

They do, however, have a tradition similar to trick or treating, but it has nothing to do with Halloween. The holiday known as Eid al-Adha is when families come together and kids ask for treats from elders. Some children will go around their neighbourhoods doing this.

A language person at Busuu said:
“It’s interesting to see how other cultures and countries adapt to one another's traditions.

“Halloween is an American event but over the years, social media and popular culture have made it more of an event here in the UK and in countries, including Mexico, Japan and Italy. But not everywhere has embraced it.

“Other countries like Spain are protective of their traditions like All Saints’ Day and they tend to keep this alive rather than celebrating Halloween.”