Shutterstock / otsphoto©With Halloween approaching, take a look at how different nations celebrate the annual, spooky festival.
The team at Busuu have revealed what October 31 means for other cultures, and it seems that every country has their own way of marking the day.
For places like France, Spain and Poland, All Saints’ Day takes priority, which falls on November 1.
For this bank holiday families get together and visit the cemetery to pay respects to those who have passed.
Similarly in Mexico, families get together on El Día de Muertos (the Day of the Dead) to light candles around pictures of late family members and cook their favourite foods to celebrate their lives.
Other countries, including Germany, Japan and China have fully embraced elements of Halloween from the American tradition.
A language expert at Busuu said: “It’s interesting to see how other cultures and countries adapt to one another’s traditions.
“Halloween is an American event but over the years, social media and popular culture have made it more of an event here in the UK and in countries, including Mexico and Japan. But not everywhere has embraced it.
“Other countries like Spain are protective of their traditions like All Saints’ Day and they tend to keep this alive rather than celebrating Halloween.”
How Halloween is celebrated around the world:
France
The French don’t tend to celebrate Halloween. While France is a secular country, it still has a big Christian influence and Halloween is overshadowed by Toussaint – All Saints’ Day – where people traditionally visit the cemetery.
When it comes to fun for the children, some will be trick or treating, but not many households will have sweets ready to give out.
Germany
Like the UK, Germany seems to have adapted more to the idea of Halloween in recent years and it’s mainly youngsters who are likely to celebrate it.
The Halloween vibes are definitely met with spooky decor, pumpkins and fancy dress. Kids also do all of the traditional Halloween activities, like trick or treating.
Spain
Protective over their traditions, Spain tends not to celebrate Halloween, and sees it as an American tradition.
Youngsters may go to Halloween parties hosted by clubs and school kids in bigger cities may go trick or treating, but the event isn’t widely celebrated by all.
Horror marathons are also shown on TV around this time, but typically All Saints’ Day is a much bigger deal on November 1.
Like France, this is also taken as a bank holiday and people will visit the cemetery to honour the dead.
Mexico
Traditional Dia de los Muertos celebration with skull, candles, and flowers
Mexico, on the other hand, is very big on Halloween and all of the traditions are embraced – the pumpkins, the spooky decorations, the dressing up.
The only thing that isn’t a big thing is trick or treating. Children living in safer neighbourhoods may be knocking door to door, but generally it’s not safe for children to be roaming the streets.
Also celebrated around that time is Día de los Muertos. On this day families get together to remember their loved ones who have passed.
They light candles and place decorations around the picture of their loved one and cook their favourite foods to celebrate their life.
Maybe this Halloween you can watch Disney movie “Coco” with your children and grandchildren to learn more about Día de los Muertos, as the film does a great job of accurately representing the culture.
Russia
In Russia, Halloween tends to be an excuse for young people to party. Some teenagers might go trick or treating, but households won’t really prepare for this. Instead, they’ll just give out whatever sweets that they have at home.
Turkey
Similar to Russia, Halloween in Turkey is also a reason for youngsters to throw parties. But the fancy dress is minimal.
They do, however, have a tradition similar to trick or treating, but it has nothing to do with Halloween.
The holiday known as Eid al-Adha is when families come together and kids ask for treats from elders. Some children will go around their neighbourhoods doing this.
Poland
Halloween isn’t a big celebration in Poland.
All Saints’ Day is, and families will go to the cemetery together, with many places of rest packed with relatives.
Japan
Halloween is as much of a thing as Christmas in Japan, and it’s treated like more of an event.
People will get together in the centre of Tokyo at the famous Shibuya Crossing.
They use it as an excuse to dress up and throw parties. Parents also get together so that all of their kids can safely go trick or treating.
China
Halloween has definitely grown in China because of popular culture and social media.
Halloween props feature more in commercial settings like shops and bars, or at special Halloween events. Other than that, children don’t really go trick or treating.
Try some pumpkin recipes this Halloween!
Iain McDonald I am the Digital Content Editor at the “Friend”, making me responsible for managing the flow of interesting and entertaining content on the magazine’s website and social media channels.
