Trick or Treat!
know how the world celebrate Halloween
We’re almost to the weekend! Today, let’s slow down and show some appreciation for the cozy, spooky vibes of October.
And for your task of the day:
📌 Take a few minutes to write down one Halloween memory that always makes you smile
Remembering past Halloweens can deepen your connection to the season and its traditions, making current celebrations feel even more meaningful. Plus, reliving a happy memory triggers positive emotions.
Now, let’s start with the day…
Spooky celebrations around the world
Halloween is here, and while many of us are gearing up with costumes, candy bowls, and ghostly decor, Halloween doesn’t look the same everywhere. Yep, across the globe, people put their own spin on this eerie season, blending local flavors with a splash of spooky.
So, are you ready for a haunted world tour? 👻
🎃 Mexico
In Mexico, it’s not just one night of spookiness - Halloween is part of Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, a multi-day festival from October 31 to November 2.
Families create altars, known as ofrendas, decorated with cempasúchil (marigold flowers), candles, incense, and photos of loved ones. Sugar skulls, colorful papel picado (cut-paper decorations), and foods like pan de muerto (sweet bread) are all part of the setup.
It’s believed these offerings guide the spirits back to their families for one night, making it a warm, lively celebration of life, family, and memories.
🎃 Ireland
Believe it or not, Halloween began in Ireland with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.
Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the darker half of the year. The Celts believed the boundary between the living and the dead blurred on October 31, allowing spirits to roam the earth.
People would light bonfires to ward off spirits, and to this day, Halloween in Ireland involves bonfires, feasts, and barmbrack - a fruitcake with charms like rings, coins, and rags that supposedly tell your fortune.
If you find a ring, marriage might be in your future; a rag, however, means some rough patches are ahead.
🎃 Japan
Japan’s Halloween vibe is modern, fun, and costume-centric. Every October, Tokyo’s Kawasaki district throws one of the biggest Halloween parades in Asia.
It’s not just about being spooky; it’s about creativity, with thousands of people dressing up in incredible, often pop-culture-inspired costumes. Even Tokyo Disneyland joins the fun with special events and themed decorations.
Trick-or-treating isn’t as popular, but if you’re in Tokyo during the Halloween season, you’ll see stores, cafes, and even trains decked out for the festivities.
🎃 Italy
In Italy, Halloween is a little different. Instead of ghouls and goblins, it’s more focused on family and tradition, with La Festa di Ognissanti (All Saints’ Day) on November 1 and Il Giorno dei Morti (All Souls’ Day) on November 2.
Italians pay their respects by visiting cemeteries, lighting candles, and leaving flowers at gravesites. In recent years, Halloween decor has started to pop up, and young Italians have embraced costumes and even trick-or-treating.
Some cities, like Florence and Rome, now host Halloween-themed events, and you might even find carved pumpkins in some households.
🎃 China
In China, Halloween coincides with Teng Chieh, or the Hungry Ghost Festival, celebrated during the seventh month of the lunar calendar.
During this time, it’s believed that spirits are free to roam the earth, so families create small altars, complete with candles, incense, and food offerings, to help guide the spirits back. Many people also burn joss paper (paper money and symbolic items), for ancestors in the afterlife.
In Hong Kong, this time of year is celebrated as Yue Lan, or the Hungry Ghost Festival, with paper offerings that include models of items like clothes and electronics.
🎃 Philippines
Halloween in the Philippines has its own soulful twist with Pangangaluluwa, where kids go door-to-door not for candy but for prayers.
Traditionally, they’d sing songs and say prayers for the dead in exchange for alms or treats. In rural areas, this is still practiced, although larger cities have adopted costume parties, decorations, and trick-or-treating.
This time of year also includes All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, where people visit cemeteries, light candles, and bring flowers for their loved ones.
🎃 Romania
Transylvania, Romania, becomes the ultimate Halloween destination each year. If there’s one place where Halloween truly feels haunted, it’s here, in the legendary home of Count Dracula.
Bran Castle, often called “Dracula’s Castle” (even though Vlad the Impaler didn’t live there), hosts Halloween parties complete with ghost tours, spooky decor, and costume contests. Visitors can even stay overnight in the castle if they’re brave enough!
Many locals and tourists join in for torch-lit processions and themed dinners in the surrounding villages, blending history with the thrill of Halloween night.
So there you have it - Halloween has a unique vibe in every corner of the globe.
How are you celebrating Halloween? I’d love to hear about your spooky plans!
