Halloween around the world: Culture and customs

A truly global phenomenon, the varying Halloween traditions around the world offer a unique insight into the cultures that celebrate it. However, way before the arrival of pumpkin-shaped earrings and spider-web spray, Halloween began as a Celtic festival known as Samhain. This simple pagan celebration marked the start of preparations for winter after harvest and was thought to be an auspicious time to commune with the dead.

The theory goes that because All Saints day and Samhain fell at the same time, the two influenced one another and blended into one. For instance, the western tradition of trick or treating is believed to be a direct descendant of ‘souling’ and ‘guising’ – where British and Irish poor would go door-to-door asking for food in return for prayers for the souls of the dead. The word Halloween is a contraction of the term ‘All Hallows Eve’, which precedes ‘All Hallows Day’.

Halloween traditions around the world

In honor of this ghoulish festival, here is TravelLocal‘s round-up of Halloween traditions and celebrations around the world.

Colombia

Most people flock to Bogota for Halloween, as this is where most of the country’s festivities are enjoyed… However, If you like your Halloween parade with a petrol-head twist, head to the annual Moto Halloween event in Cali, Colombia, where the participants dress up as witches, zombies, Voodoo dolls, ghosts and ghouls before mounting their motorbikes and cruising the city in Halloween style. This is the city’s most dynamic parade, combining biking with the mysterious spirit of Halloween, and it takes place just before Colombia’s more established festivals of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. 

The procession has grown in size and significance in recent years and is now one of the most sought-after events in Colombia. The dates of the Moto event tend to vary from year to year, so be sure to keep checking your calendar, this fun and eclectic event is a Halloween must.

China

Halloween isn’t part of Chinese culture, and is very much a western tradition. In major cities like Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou, mainstream Halloween events are held. 

The Chinese version of Halloween is known as Teng Chieh, which means “Festival of Hungry Ghosts” and is usually celebrated in August or September on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month. This Chinese folklore festivity focuses on departed loved ones, where the spirits of the deceased are celebrated. Food and water are placed in front of pictures of the deceased, as it is believed that their spirits return to visit those they left behind. The food ensures the spirits aren’t offended and find peace in the offerings from earthly beings. Bonfires and lanterns light the way for these returning spirits. 

Ireland

Halloween is a massive event in Ireland, which makes sense considering its origins stem from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. The Samhain festival was a pagan festival from thousands of years ago, set to usher in the harvest season and the dark season (winter) on October 31st. This is when the boundaries between the living world and the spiritual world merged, allowing for fairies and spirits to move between worlds. 

But why the pumpkins? Eons ago, as folklore would have it, an Irish man called Stingy Jack made a deal with the devil and double crossed him, with the devil eventually leaving Stingy Jack to roam the earth with only a burning coal for light. Jack placed the embers into a turnip to create a lantern to find his way in the dark…for eternity. As such, people began carving out frightening faces onto turnips and placing candles inside, calling these “artworks” the Jack-O’-Lantern. Irish immigrants brought this tradition across to America, where pumpkins were more readily available than turnips, and thus Americanised the tradition. 

Latin America

El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is huge in Latin America. The absorption of ancient Aztec rituals into the colonisers’ Catholic celebrations has created a kind of ghoulish megafest, incorporating the most vibrant and exciting customs from both cultures. Tradition states that, at this time, the spirit world overlaps with the living world and the deceased can revisit their living families. To honour these lost souls, an exhilarating three day festival takes place throughout most of Latin America – with the most spectacular held in Mexico and Guatemala. Incredible festivals and parades of marigolds, skulls, skeletons, food and prayers all come together to make the Día de los Muertos celebrations some of the most memorable on the globe.

Hong Kong

As one of the most westernised corners of Asia, Hong Kong has a long history of celebrating Halloween, and although some of the more rustic traditions – jack-o-lanterns and trick or treating – haven’t really caught on in this city of high rises, it’s a great place for an upmarket fancy dress party. 

One of the most famous places to strut your spooky stuff in your elaborate Halloween costume is at the Lan Kwai Fong street party, where the whole area is decorated in exuberant fright-night style, with a makeup service for those who want that professional sheen. Other events not to be missed include the elaborate costume show at the Hong Kong Space Museum, or the legendary brick-or-treat event at Legoland Discovery. 

The Philippines

In the Philippines, many Filipinos travel back to their home region for the Halloween period, one of the biggest events of the year for this majority Roman Catholic country. Preparations begin in advance by cleaning up cemeteries, spring cleaning the home and gathering all the celebration essentials: candles, flowers and food. The graveside reunions on the 1st and 2nd days of November have a decidedly upbeat atmosphere, as families assemble to celebrate the lives of the deceased, equipped with tables and chairs, picnics, card games and music. It’s not uncommon to light candles and put flowers on the tomb of a deceased relative. This event to commemorate those passed becomes a celebration for all the family. 

Make it happen

Around the world, Halloween is celebrated through a rich tapestry of unique and vibrant Halloween traditions. Our knowledgeable local experts can craft bespoke itineraries that include these thrilling celebrations, and many more cultural experiences!

1. Colombia
2. China
3. Ireland
4. Latin America
5. Hong Kong
6. The Philippines