Halloween continues to be celebrated in various ways, despite youth culture across the world today generally adopting a more American, modern style of celebration.
Most customs remain unique and tie into the history of the regions in which they are celebrated.
So who celebrates what and where?
America Halloween traditions
Halloween in America does not require any embellishment. The states usually see some of the world’s largest and most extravagent celebrations. Festivisties rage on for days with decor (the frenzy does not stop at pumpkins - or Jack-o’-lanterns), costumes, pranks and parties. In certain areas of the U.S., there is often oppotunity to partake in different sorts of festivals. Selma Alabama, for instance, has been recognised for centuries as the hub of witchcraft and tends to host the Festival of the Dead.
Through the years, the Halloween craze in America has led to commercial success and has been featured heavily in media and T.V, leading others across the world to adopt some American customs and traditions as their own.
Ireland Halloween traditions
Many today seem to have forgotten the day’s Gaelic roots in the Samhain festival. Samhain is an Irish pagan festival marking the end of the summer and the beginning of the harvest season. The Celts believed that, during Samhain, the spirits of the dead would visit the living as the veil between their worlds became especially thin.
Cake and Death💀…Wild berry Barmbrack for Samhain. 🎃🍂 https://t.co/wzEgO28N4c #heathenholidays #Samhain pic.twitter.com/n4jUjWqErW
— Raven Wood (@witchravenwood) October 10, 2023
While some still choose to remember loved ones during Samhain today by speaking of their ancestors and visiting cemeteries, most celebrate the festival with baked treats, including barmbrack, a dense cake loaded with currants, raisins, and candied citrus. A ring, a rag, and a coin is generally hidden inside the barmbrack by the baker. Superstition says that whoever finds the ring will be married, whoever finds the rag may be faced with an uncertain financial future, and that the finder of the coin will have a prosperous year ahead.
Wales Halloween traditions
Wales also observed Samhain, calling it Calan Gaeaf. The night had many rituals, including one where a man would dress up in an animal skin, to frighten children.
While trick or treating originated from gwrachod, meaning ‘witches’. Men would roam the villages dressed in rags and masks as witches, going from door to door for coppers, fruit, and nuts, repelling evil spirits but also to get treats from the villagers.
Pumpkin carving, meanwhile, originated in the practise of hollowing out and carving turnips, which were then placed by the side of the road with candles in them to scare off the wicked. There was also the ghost of Y Ladi Wen, a white lady who could be found at crossroads and graveyards, guarding against evil spirits.
Mexico Halloween traditions
In Mexico, Halloween is known as Día de Los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, based on Aztec traditons. Similar to Celt beliefs, the spirits of the dead are believed to rejoin family members. However, during Día de Los Muertos, departed child spirits do so on October 31, whilst adults visit them on November 2.
It is customary for Mexicans to wear skull masks on Halloween, a practice adopted during the early 1900s. Dazzling and bright costumes, as in other parts of the world, are commonly worn, too.
Hong Kong Halloween traditions
Hong Kong does not celebrate Halloween as much as other countries. There is generally no trick or treating, because there are other traditions to celebrate the dead (like Obon) — but things are gradually changing. Hong Kong Disneyland typically has Disney villains in costume, ready to sing something gory. Meanwhile, in Hong Kong’s largest theme park, Ocean Park Hong Kong, there are haunted houses and rosters of events to suit all looking to participate in the festivities of the day.
France Halloween traditions
The French reserve little fanfare and excitement for Halloween. They see it as more of an American tradition and, moreover, they have All Saint’s Day, La Toussaint, to overshadow it.
All Saint’s Day falls on November 1 and is a national public holiday. French citizens remember the dead, attend church, and lay flowers over the graves of loved ones. Italy somewhat mirrors France in that Halloween is also outshone by All Saint’s Day.
Italy Halloween traditions
There is generally a dinner following church processions, but festivities tend to steer clear of anything sinister and gory for the most part.
