One of the most well-known holidays in the West is Halloween, complete with pumpkins, costumes, and candy. However, did you know that Halloween is observed in a variety of ways around the world and has its origins in ancient festivals? Although trick-or-treating is popular in the US, other nations have distinctive traditions that are influenced by their own histories and cultures.

Here are some examples of Halloween celebrations around the world, ranging from street parties to Celtic customs from antiquity.

The Origins of Halloween

Halloween can be traced back to Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival marking the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. Celebrated on October 31, it was believed to be a night when the boundary between the living and the dead was thin, allowing spirits to cross over.

As Christianity spread, Samhain blended with All Saints’ Day (November 1) and All Souls’ Day (November 2), creating the foundation for today’s Halloween. Over time, different countries added their own traditions — some spooky, some festive, and some deeply spiritual.

United States and Canada: Trick-or-Treat Central

When most people think of Halloween, they picture kids in costumes knocking on doors for candy. That image comes largely from the United States and Canada, where Halloween is celebrated on a massive scale.

• Costumes range from scary monsters to superheroes and pop culture icons.
• Trick-or-treating is a favorite activity for children, with neighborhoods decorated in cobwebs and pumpkins.
• Haunted houses and theme parks add a spooky thrill for adults.
• Pumpkin carving is a must-do tradition, with lanterns glowing on porches.

Canada shares similar traditions, but with the addition of French-Canadian folklore like the “Bonhomme Sept-Heures,” a scary figure said to capture misbehaving children.

Ireland and Scotland: Where It All Began

In Ireland and Scotland, the birthplace of Samhain, Halloween remains closely tied to folklore.

• Bonfires are still lit in rural areas, echoing ancient rituals.
• Games like bobbing for apples remain popular.
• Colcannon, a dish of mashed potatoes with cabbage, is sometimes served, with charms hidden inside predicting the future.
• Children may go door-to-door for treats, a practice known as “guising.”

These traditions preserve the link between modern Halloween and its Celtic origins.

Mexico and Latin America: Día de los Muertos

While Mexico doesn’t celebrate Halloween in the American sense, it hosts one of the world’s most colorful festivals: Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), held on November 1–2.

• Families create altars (ofrendas) decorated with marigolds, candles, and photos of loved ones.
• Sugar skulls and pan de muerto (bread of the dead) are offered as treats.
• Parades and skeleton costumes bring a festive, not frightening, atmosphere.

Similar celebrations occur across Latin America, where honoring ancestors takes precedence over spooky costumes.

Japan: Costume Parades and Street Parties

In Japan, Halloween is a relatively new import but has exploded in popularity.

• Tokyo’s Shibuya district hosts massive Halloween street parties, with thousands in elaborate costumes.
• Trick-or-treating isn’t common, but theme parks like Disneyland Tokyo hold parades and spooky events.
• Halloween here is more about creativity and cosplay than candy.

Japan has embraced Halloween as a cultural spectacle, blending it with its love of anime and fashion.

Philippines: Pangangaluluwa

In the Philippines, Halloween mixes Western influence with local Catholic traditions.

• Children go house to house singing and asking for prayers for souls in purgatory, a practice called Pangangaluluwa.
• Families visit cemeteries on All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, cleaning graves and holding feasts.
• Candles and flowers are offered to ancestors, making it both a solemn and festive time.

Germany and Austria: Ghostly Beliefs

In Germany and Austria, Halloween is slowly gaining popularity, but older customs still survive.

• People once hid knives on Halloween night to protect themselves from returning spirits.
• Modern Germans celebrate with costume parties, pumpkin festivals, and haunted houses.
• Children have started trick-or-treating in recent years, influenced by American culture.

Italy: Ognissanti (All Saints’ Day)

In Italy, the focus is more on All Saints’ Day (Ognissanti) and All Souls’ Day.

• Families honor the dead by visiting cemeteries and leaving flowers.
• In some regions, children wake up to find gifts left by their ancestors’ spirits, similar to Christmas morning.
• Halloween parties are becoming more common in big cities, but tradition remains strong.

Romania: Dracula’s Homeland

In Romania, Halloween has a spooky twist thanks to its association with Transylvania, the home of Dracula.

• The Bran Castle (often linked to Dracula legends) hosts Halloween tours and events.
• Costume parties and festivals draw visitors from all over the world.
• While not a traditional holiday, Romania leans into its gothic folklore for Halloween tourism.

Other Unique Halloween Traditions

• China: The Hungry Ghost Festival (in August) is a similar celebration, with offerings for wandering spirits.
• Czech Republic: People place chairs by the fire on Halloween night — one for each living person and one for each spirit.
• Haiti: Voodoo traditions mix with All Saints’ Day, with rituals honoring the spirits of the dead.
• Sweden: Halloween coincides with All Saints’ Day (Alla Helgons Dag), often marked with candlelit cemetery visits.

Final Thoughts

Halloween may be most famous in the U.S., but its spirit lives in countless forms worldwide. From Ireland’s bonfires and Mexico’s Day of the Dead to Japan’s street parades, each culture puts its own twist on the spooky season.

These global Halloween traditions remind us that while the ways of honoring the dead may differ, the themes of remembrance, community, and celebration are universal.