Is Halloween a Federal Holiday? Here’s the answer
October 25, 2023
Have you ever wondered…
● Is Halloween a uniquely American holiday?
● what countries celebrate Halloween?
Halloween originated in Europe.
People from different religious backgrounds and in various nations worldwide are celebrating Halloween more and more.
However, the exact form of the holiday varies from country to country. While Halloween in the United States insists on centering on costumes and trick-or-treating, other countries still wear scary costumes and downplay the trick-or-treating aspect.
So, what countries celebrate Halloween?
Come with me on a world map and find out.
Table of Contents
The History of Halloween
Let’s look at the past of Halloween before What Countries Celebrate Halloweent.
Halloween is one of the oldest holidays in the world. It comes from the ancient Celtic holiday of Samhain, which was held on November 1 to celebrate the Celtic New Year.
Today is the last day of summer and the harvest. It’s also the start of winter, a cold season linked to death and darkness. Celts thought that the night before October 31, “New Year’s Day,” the lines between the living world and the world of the dead blurred.
They thought the dead returned to Earth to cause trouble and destroy crops. As part of the celebrations, people dressed up, lit bonfires, and killed animals. When the Romans took over Ireland and the British Isles in the first century A.D., People mixed the celebration with the Roman holiday Philalia, a time to remember the dead. The holiday became linked to All Souls’ Day when Christianity came to the area. It was also a party for the dead.
Early Halloween celebrations were only held in the New England colonies in the United States. Still, in Maryland and the southern colonies of the United States, people gathered to celebrate the harvest, share the history of the dead, tell each other’s fortunes, and sing traditional songs and hymns. In the second half of the nineteenth century, America welcomed millions of new Irish immigrants, who brought Celtic Halloween traditions, including wearing fancy costumes and going door-to-door demanding “Trick or treat!” Around the end of the 1800s, the holiday had become mostly secular, with people dressing up, going trick-or-treating, and making seasonal foods and drinks.
What Countries Celebrate Halloween?
Hush! Trick or treat! These are just a few words and phrases you may hear repeatedly on October 31 each year, a holiday that children and adults alike look forward to.
What are we talking about? Halloween, of course!
So, what countries celebrate Halloween?
Here is a list of countries.
United States
Halloween has become very famous in the United States and is celebrated every year on October 31. Every youngster and adult always cherishes it.
Some of the favorite Halloween activities in the United States include dressing up in costumes and carving pumpkins to make pumpkin lights.
Trick-or-treating involves knocking on doors, shouting “trick-or-treat,” and getting candy in return.
Scary occasions include recounting scary memories, watching scary videos, or “haunted houses.” Hobby points are also popular.
There are also common personal treats for Halloween, including caramel apples, sweet corn, and pumpkin-flavored treats. Both Canada and Ireland have similar traditions.
Canada
Canada is also one of the few countries that celebrate Halloween. People widely recognize Halloween in Canada and celebrate it in the United States.
It is a fun and festive night filled with costumes and trick-or-treating. Canada’s declaration of Halloween is the term “trick or treat,” which dates back to 1927.
It has happened before, according to a newspaper article in Alberta, Canada, “Pranksters have been traveling the circuit asking for ‘trick or treating.
The Netherlands (Amsterdam)
Many people think that a trip to Amsterdam always hosts a party, but that’s not always true. However, a more adult, grown-up vibe fills the city around Halloween. You can find everything from whimsical-themed parties to shocking costumes on many streets, with Amsterdam’s cafes at the heart of the action.
China
In China, Hong Kong is recognized as Asia’s capital of Halloween celebrations. Halloween in Hong Kong has two traditions.
The first involves an event called “Yue Lan” (Hungry Ghost Festival). It focuses less on celebrations.
As an alternative, gifts may be given to the spirits of the dead to ease and drive them away.
Americans or Canadians who have emigrated celebrate the second and more commercialized tournament.
Hong Kong Disneyland hosts an annual Halloween bash. The bars of Lan Kwai Fong host annual Halloween events.
Although Hong Kong doesn’t commonly celebrate trick-or-treating, the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui sometimes attempts to replicate this celebration.
United Kingdom
Along with the Gaelic holiday of Samhain, the Scots, the Irish, the English, and the Welsh enjoy Halloween. In the U.K., Halloween wasn’t like it is now that it’s more Americanized.
In England, Guy Fawkes Day, on November 5, has long been more exciting than Halloween. Still, you’ll probably see pumpkins, costumes, and kids going door-to-door trick-or-treating in the U.K.
Mexico
El Dia de Muertos is the Mexican Day of the Dead, similar to Halloween in some ways, including costumes, food, etc., for example:
Using skeletons as decorations
Making shaped candies, such as the famous Bread of the Dead or Sugar Calaveras
But the Day of the Dead, arguably Mexico’s most famous holiday, also combines the traditions of European-born colonizers with those of the indigenous people of Central America.
They invite the dead to return to their families for the celebration. Often, families place pictures of their loved ones on the altar, welcome them back, and write poems in their honor. Celebrations include:
● Sipahuachil flowers
● Food and drink
● Photos
● Poetry
● Bread making for the dead
● Decorative candy Calaveras (skulls) with names and photos of people (living or dead)
Especially those who have lost a loved one in the past year find this holiday vital in coping with the pain of loss. On the eve of the Day of the Dead, November 2, they hold a memorial service at the gravesite of their deceased loved ones. Family members can hold overnight vigils, eat prepared food, and visit and pray for each other and all deceased family members. They display many Mexican cultural ceremonial items and iconic items on the altar, which is the centerpiece of the celebration.
Greece
Another country that celebrates Halloween is Greece. Primarily, people celebrate Halloween to attract expatriates and vacationers to hotels and bars.
However, the Greeks also organize the same tournament, “Apokrias,” in February, when teenagers dress up and gather their friends to see if they can bet on their identity.
Cakes, sweets, and other “delicacies” are also surpassed by the Carnival-style parades along the most important streets in the big cities. Did you know? The Greeks have their recipe for “Greek Pumpkin Pie,” called “Kolokythopita”!
Germany
Germany is one of the countries that celebrates Halloween, and Halloween celebrations are very new in Germany.
In addition, historical traditions associated with All Souls’ Day include the insertion of knives at night on Halloween to prevent harm to returning spirits.
Today, in major cities, especially university towns, neighborhood teenagers and expatriate English coaches dress up, drink, and party with each other at various golf courses and bars in their neighborhoods. Now is the perfect time to break out the Beethoven historical costumes!
Guatemala
Guatemalans also honor the dead during the first few days of November. During Barriletes Gigantes, or “Giant Kite” festivals, Guatemalans fill the sky with huge, colorful kites.
These kites, which can fly up to 40 feet in the air, are often hand-painted and fly over the graves of deceased loved ones. The kites represent a bridge between the living and the dead.
South Korea
During Halloween, the Itaewon district in downtown Seoul is closed to cars. And booths are set up for various celebrations, including live music, costume contests, and heavy drinking. In addition, most of this neighborhood’s restaurants, clubs, and bars host different events where foreigners and Koreans gather for late-night revelry and dancing – all in costume!
Koreans also hold a parallel Halloween celebration, “Chusok,” at the end of August and the beginning of September, when families gather to thank deceased relatives and offer fruit, rice, and prayers at the altar.
Czech Republic
Like the U.K., the Czech Republic has more of a Halloween appeal as it boasts many ancient and historic locations for a scary trip. From Grimm’s fairytale-style castles to torture museums, visitors to this country will surely find something to keep them spooked. The Czech Republic is also home to many legends and myths, especially when traveling around Prague.
Brazil
Even if it’s not a major holiday in Carnival land, Brazilian expats have a great Halloween, and many locals are happy to party!
Local flavors included Caipirinha cocktails, batucada cocktails, and colorful parades accompanied by drumming! As with most Rio de Janeiro restaurants, bars, and golf courses, you can easily discover Halloween birthday occasions.
Have fun together, especially in the Lapa district, which will be hosting unique Halloween nights and spooky celebrations!
Philippines
Philippines’ “Pangagaluluwa” is their version of Halloween. Kids sing a song at each house in return for candy, food, or money. The kids must sing for the souls of people still in limbo to help them get to heaven.
Brussels, Belgium
Belgium’s parties are slightly darker than those in other parts of Europe. There are also more classic celebrations like parades and festivals, but Brussels does more. City pools are turned red all day so kids in costumes can swim in them, and there are many scary walks in the streets. People who want to party on Halloween should go to Ostend, which is known as Belgium’s “Halloween capital.”
Spain
Halloween in Spain differs from most European countries because it feels familiar and unique. The Mexican and Spanish holiday El Dia de Los Muertos is a date to remember loved ones who have passed away.
Spain celebrates Halloween over three days. On October 31, it’s Dia de las Brujas, or “Day of the Witches.” On November 1, it’s Dia de Todos Los Santos, or “All Saints’ Day,” and on November 2, it’s Dia de Los Muertos, or “Day of the Dead.”
On the public holiday called Dia de Todos Los Santos, families visit the graves of their loved ones who have died. They bring holy water, flowers, food, and drinks and enjoy themselves and talk to each other.
Still, Halloween events vary from big city to small city. In Galicia, Spain, for example, there is a mix of Celtic rituals, modern Halloween adaptations, and the Catholic practice of visiting the graves of dead loved ones to honor them.
Poland
Next is a list of countries that celebrate Halloween in Poland. While Polish organizations might host masquerades and decorate store windows for Halloween, many Poles find these customs repulsive.
As a result, Poland’s Americanized version of Halloween no longer has a foothold. Poles have an exciting Night of the Ancestors, a historic Slavic custom that blends in with the Christian celebration of All Souls Day on November 2.
On Ancestors’ Night, there may be a quiet procession to the ancestors’ graves, where grave candles are lit and placed on the graves of partners, children, and friends.
People set a more prominent place at the table on this night for the spirits of the deceased to enter. After dinner, they take the leftovers to the cemetery.
Italy
Halloween is becoming increasingly popular in Italy. However, La Festa di Ognissanti (All Saints’ Day) on November 1 and Il Giorno dei Morti (All Souls’ Day) on November 2 are widely celebrated with events and parties.
In Sardinia, All Souls’ Day is spent carving pumpkins called “Concas de Mortu” (meaning heads of the dead).
The tour begins on October 31 and runs through November 2, including All Souls Day. Although there is not much trick-or-treating and many regions have a variety of celebrations, Italians have a great time with their loved ones on All Souls Day.
Romania
Of course, every list of ultimate Halloween destinations would only be complete by adding the alleged home of the world’s most notorious vampire, Dracula. In Transylvania, Bran Castle is the place to be, as it is the real-life home of the historical figure that inspired Bram Stoker’s iconic horror novel.
Those going to Romanic for Halloween should also plan to stay for the next Day of the Dead, November 1. Can you only get there at the end of the year? Never fear – November 30th marks the date of another celebration, the Feast of St. Andrew on.
Japan
Halloween is a new holiday in Japan, a country embracing Western traditions and adding its influences. Trick-or-treating is less popular in Japan because other festivals celebrate the dead, including Obon.
Instead, Halloween in Japan is all about costumes. Celebrants are usually adults who dress up and go to parties and clubs.
Sweden
Every year on All Hallow’s Eve, many people go to Uppsala Cathedral, part of the Lutheran Church of Sweden, for a Requiem Mass.
Starting with All Hallow’s Eve, Swedish families go to churchyards and decorate the graves of their loved ones with lit candles and flowers made from pine branches. It is called Allhallowtide.
Around 2005, dressing up in costume and collecting candy became a popular trick for kids. Older people, on the other hand, don’t trust American Halloween customs. They clash with Swedish traditions on All Hallow’s Eve partly because they are too commercialized. All Saint’s Day, or All Hallow’s Eve, is celebrated in Sweden every year on October 31. From October 31 to November 6, it falls on a Saturday.
St. Helena
Halloween is mostly enjoyed in St. Helena, like in the United States, with ghosts, skeletons, devils, vampires, witches, and other scary characters.
Since the pumpkin harvesting season in the St. Helena hemisphere is far from Halloween, imitation pumpkins are used instead of real pumpkins. “Trick-or-treating is common. Party places provide entertainment for adults.
Halloween is on the Rise Everywhere
Besides the countries mentioned above, what countries celebrate Halloween?
Here are some notes for you to read together.
| Countries | Halloween |
|---|---|
| Australia | growing popularity |
| Belgium | growing popularity |
| Brazil | Pushed to the background by Saci Day and Dia das Bruxas (Witch’s Day), |
| Canada | Very popular |
| China | overshadowed by traditional days of the dead |
| Colombia | celebrated alongside Dia de los Muertos |
| Czech Republic | growing popularity |
| Dominican Republic | growing popularity |
| Ecuador | celebrated as El Día de los Difuntos on Nov. 2. |
| El Salvador | Known as La Calabiuza on November 1 |
| France | growing popularity |
| Germany | overshadowed by St. Martin’s Day on November 11 |
| Greece | growing popularity |
| Guatemala | November 1 is also the day of the Festival de Barriletes Gigantes and Dia de los Muertos. |
| India | growing popularity |
| Ireland | celebrated alongside Samhain |
| Italy | growing popularity |
| Malaysia | growing popularity |
| Mexico | celebrated as Dia de los Muertos |
| Netherlands | overshadowed by St. Martin’s Day on November 11 |
| New Zealand | growing popularity |
| Nicaragua | overshadowed by Los Agüizotes |
| Peru | People marked it with All Saints’ Day, El Día de la Canción Criolla, and Día de los Difuntos |
| Philippines | overshadowed by Undás |
| Poland | growing popularity |
| Peru | People marked it with All Saints’ Day, El Día de la Canción Criolla, and Día de los Difuntos |
| Philippines | overshadowed by Undás |
| Poland | growing popularity |
| Romania | growing popularity |
| Russia | small and unwelcomed by the government |
| Rwanda | small and unwelcomed by the government |
| Serbia | growing popularity |
| Singapore | growing popularity |
| South Korea | growing popularity |
| Spain | Not as important as Todos Los Santos (All Saints’ Day) |
| Sweden | growing popularity |
| Switzerland | growing popularity |
| United Arab Emirates | growing popularity |
| United Kingdom | very popular |
| The United States | is a very popular |
FAQ:
When is Halloween?
People traditionally celebrate Halloween, also known as “All Hallows' Eve,” the night before the Christian holy day of All Saints' Day, which falls on November 1. Therefore, people always celebrate Halloween on October 31.
How did Halloween become popular in the United States?
In ancient New England, celebrating Halloween was very limited because of the strict Protestant beliefs. Around Halloween, people in Maryland and the southern states dressed up more.
Different European groups' views and traditions mixed with those of American Indians, creating a uniquely American Halloween.
The first gatherings were “game parties,” open to everyone to enjoy the harvest. People in the same neighborhood would dance, sing, and tell stories about the dead.
In the colonies, Halloween parties included telling ghost stories and pulling pranks. By the middle of the 1800s, it was normal to have fall celebrations every year, but Halloween still had to be celebrated nationwide.
Many came to the United States during the second half of the 1800s. These newcomers, especially the millions of Irish fleeing the Irish potato famine, helped make Halloween parties more popular nationwide.Why carve pumpkins for Halloween?
With its sparkling jagged eyes and twisted smile, the pumpkin lamp is one of the most recognizable faces of Halloween.
Behind that face is a story of ancient tradition and Irish-American culture.
Pumpkin lights share a long history with Halloween, although carvers only sometimes choose pumpkins for crafting our favorite demonic faces.
They come from an Irish story about a man named Stingy Jack who tricked the devil to get money. Jack was doomed to walk the Earth forever because neither God nor the devil would let him into heaven or hell.
In Ireland, people started cutting the face of the devil into turnips to scare Jack's ghost away. The Irish brought pumpkin lamps with them when they came to the United States because pumpkins were native to the area.
Conclusion
Halloween, a holiday with roots in Celtic traditions and Christian observances, has transcended borders and is now celebrated in numerous countries worldwide.
While its popularity is most pronounced in the United States and Canada, the spirit of Halloween has found a home in places like the United Kingdom, Ireland, Mexico, and various European and Asian nations.
As cultures blend and adapt, Halloween continues to evolve, bringing a touch of spookiness and fun to people of diverse backgrounds.
Do you know what countries celebrate Halloween besides those mentioned above?
