How Is Halloween Celebrated Around the World? A Look at Halloween Traditions in Different Countries!

Every year on November 1st is the Western traditional festival -- Halloween, so the eve of Halloween on October 31st is the most lively. To celebrate this day, children in every household dress up as various cute ghosts and go door-to-door asking for candy, or else they will play tricks. It is said that among these children, there may be real ghosts! Humans dress up elaborately precisely to let the ghosts blend in better.

The ways Halloween is celebrated around the world vary due to differences in culture, religion, customs, etc. This article by Little Travel City compiles the different ways European and American countries celebrate Halloween, so let us broaden our horizons. In addition, friends planning to travel to these cities at the end of October can also bookmark this and celebrate Halloween together!

1. London, UK

In the UK, Halloween can be considered a major holiday. Those who pay close attention may notice that as early as the beginning of October, supermarkets and stores start selling Halloween-related merchandise, such as whole pumpkins for making jack-o'-lanterns, decorations for rooms, and various ghost costumes.

Every Halloween, many families in the UK buy pumpkins from stores or supermarkets to carve into lanterns. These pumpkins, skillfully carved and lit with candles, become the essential Halloween jack-o'-lanterns. Over time, people have gotten creative, and now each household's jack-o'-lantern design is different, including evil cat shapes!

Apple-bobbing

This is a common Halloween game. First, apples are placed in a basin full of water. Players must use their teeth to bite out the apples floating on the water. The first one to bite out an apple wins. During the Roman Britain era, the Romans brought apple trees symbolizing the goddess Pomona to Britain. Traditionally, unmarried women played this game, and the first to bite an apple was believed to marry first. The girl who bit the apple would also place it under her pillow, as it was said she would dream of her lover.

On Halloween, people dress up as various scary characters to attract attention at costume parties. The most common Halloween costumes include werewolves, vampires, zombies, clowns, ghost brides, and more. Have you decided what costume to wear to this year's Halloween party to stand out?

2. Spain

The Spanish commemorate their deceased loved ones on Halloween while celebrating the continuation of life. People, usually busy with life, take time on this day to bring conversation and food to their relatives' graves to remember them. Besides that, they also enjoy unique Halloween foods together, and some even say that Halloween in Spain is actually a foodie festival!

Huesos de santo

This is a Spanish dessert made from almond paste rolled into an egg-roll shape, filled with a sweet egg yolk cream filling. However, the symbolism might be a bit creepy: the milky white almond rolls represent the white bones of the deceased, while the light yellow filling inside is the 'marrow.'

Performance of Don Juan Tenorio

Spaniards often go to the theater a week before Halloween to watch a performance of Don Juan Tenorio. An important part of this romantic play takes place in a cemetery, and death is one of its themes.

In some cities in Spain, the traditional custom is to silently walk through the streets or hold candles on the night of October 31st to honor the dead. In Alicante, people start lighting candles on their windows from October 28th to guide the way for the departed souls.

3. San Diego

Located in the heart of San Diego, Old Town San Diego is a beautiful and interesting historic city. It was an early Spanish colony and also the first settlement area for European immigrants. Celebrating Halloween here is very fun because you can see 'monsters and ghosts' everywhere, creating a great atmosphere!

Old Town San Diego

Here, besides participating in street activities, there are more classic haunted legends for you to explore. These include the downtown hotel in the Gaslamp Quarter! This is San Diego's oldest haunted house, once rated by Hunt World magazine as one of the top 13 haunted houses in the US.

Old Town San Diego Dia de los Muertos Event

4. Los Angeles

The lush hillsides are crisscrossed with winding paths. Old-fashioned craftsman bungalows, Victorian-style architecture, and dark mysterious houses naturally exude the eerie atmosphere of Halloween. On Carroll Avenue, famous for its haunted houses, many people are handing out candy to celebrate Halloween!

Angelino Heights: A Halloween Rich in History

Do you only celebrate Halloween on October 31st? Los Angeles's oldest street, Olvera Street, starts its grand celebration a week earlier! Here people celebrate from October 25th all the way to November 2nd, nine consecutive days! Celebrations include workshops for children, face painting, mariachi band performances, and more. Don't miss it!

Olvera Street: Day of the Dead Celebration

New York's Halloween parade takes place in Greenwich Village. Anyone (including tourists) can join this parade. Every year, up to 50,000 people participate. There is live music, creepy decorations, and people wearing the most outrageous Halloween costumes. This Halloween parade is already in its 49th year!

Greenwich Village Halloween Parade

Most interestingly, there is also a dog Halloween parade. Many pet owners dress their beloved dogs in fancy costumes to play with other dog friends at the scene, and the event selects the best-dressed dog! Besides that, you can also float jack-o'-lanterns in Central Park. The organizers provide candles and floating boards, so the river will be filled with glowing jack-o'-lanterns, shimmering beautifully.

New York Country Halloween

Over time, Halloween has become a seasonal holiday for Westerners. Many see it as the end of autumn and the arrival of winter. Once Halloween is over, people start looking forward to Thanksgiving, Christmas, and even the New Year. After reviewing Halloween celebrations in so many different countries and regions, which country's Halloween celebration do you like the most?