World TraditionsNo. 9061 · The 2026 edition
Halloween Around the World
Ever wondered how the spooky season's traditions spread across the globe? From ancient Celtic fires to modern-day jack-o'-lanterns, discover the fascinating journey of Halloween's origins and how diff
Our own summary of the original — the full post and photos live at en.wikipedia.org.
Halloween's roots trace back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, where people lit bonfires and wore costumes to ward off spirits. As the tradition evolved, it merged with Christian holidays and spread through immigration to America, where it transformed into the festive, candy-filled celebration we know today. This article explores how regional customs, from Irish potato carvings to Mexican Día de los Muertos influences, have enriched Halloween's global tapestry, showing how a centuries-old ritual became a worldwide phenomenon.
About this
A survey of how Halloween is observed and has spread around the world, from its Christian origins through regional adaptations on every continent. It covers the holiday's roots, its arrival in the Americas, Asia, Oceania and Europe, and the local customs, foods, games and controversies tied to each place.
Facts from the original
- Halloween is observed on October 31, the day before All Hallows.
- All Hallows, also called Hallowmas or All Saints' Day, falls on November 1.
- The day begins the triduum of Hallowtide, ending with All Souls' Day.
- Medieval folk belief held All Hallows' Eve was when the veil to the afterlife was thinnest.
- On All Hallows' Eve some Christians visit graveyards to pray and place flowers and candles.
- Scottish emigration brought the Scottish holiday to Canada before 1870 and the US after.
- Earliest North American ritual begging reference: Kingston, Ontario newspaper, 1911.
- Kingston children went guising 6-7 p.m. for nuts and candies.
- Canadians spend more on candy at Halloween than any time except Christmas.
- Until 2006 UNICEF collected small change during Canadian trick-or-treating.
- Quebec offers themed tours of old city parts and historic cemeteries.
- In 2014 Arviat, Nunavut moved festivities indoors due to polar bear risk.
- In British Columbia setting off fireworks at Halloween is a tradition.
- Halloween did not become a US holiday until the 19th century.
- Nearly two million Irish migrated after the Great Irish Famine (1845-1849).
- Ruth Edna Kelley wrote the first US book-length Halloween history, The Book of Hallowe'en (1919).
- Trick-or-treating is the main modern US and Canadian children's event.
- Around 1912 the Boy Scouts and Boys Clubs encouraged safer celebrations.
- Halloween commercialization began with postcards popular 1905-1915.
- Dennison Manufacturing published its first Halloween catalog in 1909.
- The Beistle Company pioneered commercially made Halloween decorations, notably die-cut paper.
- German manufacturers exported Halloween figurines to the US between the World Wars.
- Halloween is the US second most popular decorating holiday after Christmas.
- NCA reported in 2005 that 80% of American adults planned to give out candy.
- NCA reported in 2005 that 93% of children planned to trick-or-treat.
- National Retail Federation's most popular adult costume themes: witch, pirate, vampire, cat, clown.
- Total US Halloween spending is estimated at $8.4 billion.
- An AP survey found 66% of American parents planned to take children trick-or-treating.
- Theme parks stage annual events like Halloween Horror Nights and Knott's Scary Farm.
- New York's Village Halloween Parade draws about 50,000 costumed marchers up Sixth Avenue.
- Salem, Massachusetts celebrates all October with tours, plays and concerts.
- Van Cortlandt Manor stages the Great Jack o' Lantern Blaze with thousands of carved pumpkins.
- Madison, Wisconsin's 2002 State Street celebration erupted in a riot.
- Chapel Hill's 2007 Franklin Street party drew about 80,000 in a town of 54,000.
- Keene, New Hampshire lost its Pumpkin Fest permit after a 2014 riot; it moved to Laconia for 2015.
- Brazil's NGO Amigos do Saci created Saci Day on October 31.
- Saci Day is an official holiday in São Paulo state, but few Brazilians celebrate it.
- The Saci is a mischievous evil character in Brazilian folklore.
- In the Dominican Republic Halloween gained popularity through US migration.
- Dominican children trick-or-treat in Santiago and Santo Domingo but rarely in smaller towns.
- Sosua and Punta Cana tourist venues host mostly adult Halloween celebrations.
- Mexico's Día de Muertos is a syncretism of Aztec traditions with Christian Hallowtide.
- Day of the Dead features flower decorations, altars and candies.
- Halloween and Día de Muertos have influenced each other via migration.
- China calls Halloween Wànshèng Jié (万圣节).
From the original
Halloween, celebrated on October 31, is the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows (All Saints), observed on November 1, and opens the triduum of Hallowtide that ends with All Souls' Day. In the Middle Ages many Christians believed All Hallows' Eve was the night the veil between the material world and the afterlife was thinnest. The page traces how the observance spread and varies by region. Scottish emigration carried the Scottish version of the holiday to Canada before 1870 and to the United States afterward; the earliest North American reference to ritual begging appeared in Kingston, Ontario in 1911. Irish migration after the Great Famine brought the holiday to the United States, where it was commercialized during the 20th century. In Latin America, Brazil's Saci Day was created as a local counter to Halloween, the Dominican Republic adopted it unevenly, and Mexico's Día de Muertos has increasingly interacted with Halloween imagery. Across Asia, Halloween arrived mainly through American pop culture, becoming large in Japan's Shibuya and Osaka, Hong Kong's Lan Kwai Fong, Taiwan's Tianmu festival, Singapore and South Korea, while China and Saudi Arabia show newer, uneven adoption. Oceania sees growing Australian and New Zealand observance. In Europe it gained ground from the 1990s, sometimes displacing older customs, taking distinct forms in Brittany, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy's Sardinian carved pumpkins, Poland, Romania's Dracula tourism, Russia's nightclubs, Spain's Castanyada, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK, Scotland and the Isle of Man.
