Halloween Traditions Around the World

Halloween. Many countries celebrate Halloween or a holiday around the time of it. I’m here to tell you about some of them. Also, all of the countries mentioned in this list have a blog in the blogging challenge. So without further ado.
The United States of America: In the U.S., most children(and adults) around the time of Halloween dress up as a scary creature or their favorite character and walk through a town nearby collecting candy from homeowners. The American version of Halloween started in about the 1950’s after World War Two. It is estimated that the entire U.S. spends 6 Billion each year on Halloween decorations, candy, and costumes.
Canada: Spiders are a common Halloween Decoration. But in Canada, they may not be as evil as popular culture would have you think. Many myths explain that spotting a spider on Halloween is actually a loved one watching over you.
Australia: This is for the truly evil who hate Halloween so passionately, they will spray children with water if they dare ring the doorbell, asking for candy or goodies. There’s even an elderly lady on Sydney’s Northern Beaches who not only kept the spray bottle by the front door, she had a backup bucket of water to throw over any children who ignored her cries of ‘be gone Halloween trash’. Now even though this may make it sound as if Halloween in Australia is horrible, it actually isn’t. But while you go trick or treating make sure your next house has a colorful balloon attached to the mailbox, because if it doesn’t the house may hold an elderly lady who calls you trash and throws water on you.
New Zealand: In New Zealand Halloween is frowned upon by many. The only people that really try to embrace it are the Superstore companies. The reason the Superstores are trying to get Halloween in New Zealand is that it will bring them more profit.
China: China like New Zealand doesn’t celebrate Halloween, But they do celebrate many holidays similar to the Mexican Day of the Dead, in which families celebrate those in their family that have passed on.
Argentina: Argentina as well doesn’t celebrate Halloween but they do however celebrate the Day of the Dead.
Scotland: Scotland is one of the first places to ever have a thing like Halloween, they even still carve faces into Neeps ( Turnips) like back when Halloween was first started.
Ireland: A tradition in Ireland is to have a good large meal with your immediate family, but the best part is dessert The traditional Halloween cake in Ireland is the Barnbrack which is a fruit bread. Each member of the family gets a slice. Great interest is taken in the outcome as there is a piece of rag, a coin and a ring in each cake. If you get the rag then your financial future is doubtful. If you get the coin then you can look forward to a prosperous year. Getting the ring is a sure sign of impending romance or continued happiness.
Spain: Spain celebrates the Day of the Dead but their Day of the Dead is a little weirder because its a mix of Halloween and Day of the Dead. In essence, the Spanish took the parts of both holidays and chose the parts they liked and smashed them together.
Great Britain: Depending on who you ask in Britain you will get a different answer to the question, “Does Britain celebrate Halloween?”. But the answer is ultimate yes. Halloween in Britain is mostly celebrated by the younger generations. Halloween is celebrated but other holidays are celebrated more like the Celtic Day of the Dead.
Serbia: I looked pretty hard and could not find any information on this subject but I think it’s safe to say that Serbia doesn’t celebrate Halloween.
Nigeria: Despite their Highly religious beliefs Nigerians actually celebrate Halloween. But why? Due to the fact of U.S. marketing in Nigeria.
Guatemala: Like Spain, Guatemala combines the good parts of the Day of the Dead and Halloween.
Romania: Halloween is celebrated in Romania and it is very much like the American version minus the trick or treating.
Greece: To be precise, the Greeks do not actually celebrate “Halloween” in the strict sense of the word. Instead, they celebrate Apokries. This holiday is all about dressing up in costumes and having fun like Halloween, only it is celebrated in February before Lent as part of the Greek Orthodox tradition.
Norway: Halloween in Norway is slowly getting bigger since the early 2000’s. But it is still not celebrated by many.
Russia: Halloween, surprisingly, is celebrated in Russia but many officials are trying to get it banned. Several sectors of Russia and more are following suit.
Halloween is celebrated almost everywhere and many cultures have their own spin on it. So, Comment down below, how does your country, state, or family celebrate Halloween?

7 comments

  1. Hi everyone!

    ‪Eek! I had not heard of any fellow Australians spraying children with water 😕 When I was growing up, Halloween certainly wasn’t celebrated but that has changed over the last 10 yrs or so. It’s pretty popular now! ‬

    Does everyone in your area truck or treat?

    Have fun if you’re trick or treating!

    Kathleen

    1. Dear Ms.Morris,
      Not everyone in my area trick or treats. Nor will I myself be trick or treating this year. Trick or treating in the U.S. is normally more common in the younger children from about 3 to 12 years old. In some U.S. cities, it is illegal to trick or treat if you are older than 12 years old.
      Your friend,
      CarterLe2024

      1. Hi CarterLe,

        Thanks for a great reply!

        I was really surprised to hear that it is illegal for over 12s to trick or treat in some cities.

        I’m enjoying following the great work on your blog.

        Your friend from Australia,
        Kathleen

  2. Hi,

    Interesting post!

    I was surprised to hear that they celabrate Halloween in Romania.

    I live in Romania and the only place where they actually celebrate it is at Dracula’s Castle in the city of Barn, or in our school. Though there are some neighborhoods that do trick-or-treating next to where I live.

    How did you celebrate Halloween?

    I wrote a post about a similar topic on my blog, you can read it here: http://lotsacurlz.edublogs.org

    your friend,

    Lotsacurlz

    1. Dear lotsacurlz1819,

      The reason I put that Romania celebrates Halloween is that the article I read said that it was celebrated in Barn. So that people like you didn’t say that it was celebrated in Romania. Also about the Trick-or-Treating. The site could have had false info. I didn’t actually celebrate Halloween, I mean I did a bit f dressing up at school but other than that nothing. So what did your school do for Halloween? Ours didn’t do anything.
      Your friend,
      Carter

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