Halloween is a time of vibrant celebrations, spooky decorations, and creative costumes in the United States. Americans embrace this holiday with enthusiasm and creativity from coast to coast. But we are not alone! The world is full of amazing Halloween customs and celebrations. Read on to learn more about the best Halloween traditions in the US and around the world.
The Best Halloween Traditions in The United States
Americans love pumpkin-carving, and many families gather together to spend time creating intricate designs into pumpkins.
Real Halloween enthusiasts may light their carved jack-o’-lanterns with candles or battery-operated lights and create a spooky effect on their doorsteps for visiting trick-or-treaters or friends and neighbors.
Other customs that make for the best Halloween around the United States include:
- Trick-or-treating! Kids dress up in costumes and walk door-to-door to collect candy from neighbors who welcome them.
- Brave Halloween enthusiasts often enjoy haunted houses. The courageous get to enjoy the thrills of elaborately decorated homes or public establishments built just for this special holiday.
- “Booing” is a community-based Halloween tradition that has become more popular in recent years. Friends leave anonymous treats and small gifts on neighbors’ doorsteps. Those lucky enough to get “booed” continue the chain of kindness by booing others!
- The United States has many fall festivals that include activities such as pumpkin picking, corn mazes, hayrides, live music performances, and food trucks with seasonal foods that all add fun to the best Halloween celebrations ever.
- Americans love costume parties! People of all ages dress up in creative and imaginative costumes.
- “Trunk-or-treating”, a safer alternative to trick-or-treating, has also gained popularity. People gather in their cars gather in parking lots. Everyone decorates their car trunks and fills them with candy as children go from car to car to collect treats.
- Zombie walks have become a spooky and fun Halloween tradition. People dress up as zombies and walk-through public spaces, putting on a captivating Halloween display.
More than a few cities and towns claim to have the best Halloween celebrations in the United States!
Many organize Halloween parades that may include floats, creative costumes, and music.
These parades offer a sense of community and are often the highlight of the Halloween season for local residents.
Although its origins are different from Halloween, the Day of the Dead celebrations have become intertwined with the Halloween season in many places.
These vibrant cultural events, inspired by Mexican traditions, honor deceased loved ones through lively parades, altars, and artistic displays.
Americans embrace Halloween with enthusiasm and create long-lasting memories.
Whether it’s through traditional customs or unique local traditions, these amazing Halloween activities bring joy, excitement, and a sense of togetherness to communities across the country.
But as we shared above, Halloween (also known as All Hallows’ Eve) is not just a favorite American holiday.
In fact, the celebrations for this special day originated from Celtic traditions.
And the holiday is observed in many different ways in other countries, too.
The Best Halloween Traditions Around the World
People around the world all dress up in spooky costumes, decorate their houses and engage in customs similar to those in the United States. But there are other traditions practiced elsewhere that are equally if not more interesting and fun!
Examples of customers that create the best Halloween around the world include:
- Mexico – Dia de los Muertos: In Mexico, Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is celebrated from October 31st to November 2nd. People create altars to honor deceased loved ones, complete with marigolds and their favorite foods and drinks.
- Ireland: As the birthplace of Halloween, Ireland’s traditions include carving turnips instead of pumpkins, lighting bonfires, and leaving offerings for spirits.
- England: Apple bobbing is a popular Halloween game in England. Apples are placed in a bucket of water and players try to grab them with their teeth while their hands are behind their backs.
- South Korea: Chuseok, the Korean Thanksgiving festival, takes place on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month and often falls around Halloween. Families visit ancestral graves and share traditional foods to honor their ancestors.
- Canada: In Kingston, Ontario, Canada, the annual Pumpkin Palooza features pumpkin carvings, pumpkin pie-eating contests, and spooky decorations around the city.
- Romania: Romania celebrates Halloween as an invitation to party with many gatherings that encourage people to dress up in spooky costumes, decorate their homes, and have fun with friends and family.
- Philippines: In the Philippines, Pangangaluluwâ is a Halloween tradition where kids go house to house and perform songs or recitations in exchange for coins or treats.
- Scotland: Kids in Scotland participate in the Tattie Bogles Halloween tradition that includes carving turnips into scary faces and placing them in fields to ward off evil spirits.
- Czech Republic: Like Day of the Dead, Dusicky is a celebration in the Czech Republic that honors deceased loved ones. People light candles and place blooming chrysanthemums on graves.
How to Have Halloween Fun All Around the World
Halloween is a festival celebrated across the world, and each country has its own unique and amazing traditions. The Halloween season is a time to have fun, honor our ancestors, and enjoy spooky festivities.
Add something new to your family’s observance of this fun holiday this year and have the best Halloween ever!
To read more about the value of preserving our traditions, check out:
Thank you as always for reading.
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Joan Senio is the founder of KindCompassCoach. Her career includes 20+ years as a private sector corporate executive and 15 years (and counting) as a consultant and coach. The common thread through her professional life has been a commitment to compassionate leadership, including leading and mentoring current and future leaders, and women from all walks of life. KindCompassCoach articles are backed by research and include facts and advice from a wide variety of experts. Joan is a member of the International Organization of Life Coaches, serves as a thought-leader for KuelLife.com and is a regular contributor to PsychReg and Sixty and Me.
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