27 Halloween Around the World

Halloween Around

By: Noëllie Inard Entertainment Editor

the World

Before people start going crazy over Christmas decorations and Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas," the leaves begin to change color, the air becomes cooler and the Halloween festivities begin. As a country, America has many traditions when it comes to Halloween, from decorations to Trick-or-Treating. Don’t forget the costumes and the parties for college students. However, some people might not know the history beyond those Halloween celebrations.

The etymology of the word Halloween comes from "All Hallows Eve." It was a time during the year to remember the dead on the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallow's Day. According to www.britannica.com, it is a Christian solemnity to celebrate all the Saints, whether known or unknown.

Halloween came to America when England colonized North America and imposed their religion and traditions on Indigenous Americans. As of today, attending church services on October 31 and lighting candles on the graves of the dead is still an active part of Indigenous Americans’ traditions. However, for most, Halloween is a more modern tradition without religious involvement.

Even though Halloween is known all over the world, every country has a different story about how Halloween came about and which traditions developed. Internationally speaking, the most popular ways to celebrate Halloween are the American way and the celebration of Día de Los Muertos, mainly because Disney decided to make an animated fantasy film about the holiday.

In the Philippines, families honor their dead during a holiday called Pangangaluluwa, celebrated on October 31. The tradition is that until November 2, people spend most of their time in cemeteries to commemorate the dead and spend time with the living. Additionally, like children in America, children in the Philippines wear costumes to go door-to-door; however, they do not ask for candy but for prayers for all the souls stuck in Purgatory, says www.spirithalloween.com. In Ireland and Japan, Halloween is tied to festivals and parades. Everyone wears costumes and has a good time, whereas, in South Korea or China, Halloween is not deeply rooted in people's lives as it tends to be in America.

Jerryl Varughese, a University of St. Francis (USF) international student from India, says “Halloween wasn't an actual thing in Indian culture, which makes sense when we know that Halloween is rooted in Christianism and is not one of the three primary religions of India. We do celebrate on October 31 and have little things going on, but it is more something that happens within our generation rather than India in general.” For more perspective on Halloween around the world, I asked USF student Saba Aamir, who's originally from Pakistan, if Halloween is popular there. Saba told me that it isn't, which makes sense since, just like in India, Christianism is not the major religion in Pakistan. Saba also stated, "I never went to a Halloween party, wore a costume or went trick or treating in Pakistan. I don't think kids do that. People may just wear costumes but since it’s a Christian tradition, we don't celebrate it.” After she told me that, I was curious to know what her first American Halloween experience was like. "It was really fun and new! I dressed up in a Halloween costume and went trick-or-treating with my neighborhood friend," she responded, "Though it was my first and last trick or treating, I enjoyed it."

From my own experience in France, Halloween is not that big of a deal. I did wear a vampire costume and went trick-ortreating once, but it was never about the religious aspect. It was more like a fun thing to do on October 31, even though Halloween has never been as big of a celebration as it is in America. When I first came here, I was surprised by how seriously people take Halloween. They decorate their houses, buy costumes and many children are in the street going from door-to-door.

So, it seems that even though some countries have traditions that have stayed present for Halloween, it is safe to say that Halloween, like Christmas, has lost its sense of traditions and history. Most people don't know where Halloween comes from; I sure didn't know it before writing this article. Halloween is now widely celebrated as the night where people dress up in costumes, children go door-to-door trick or treating, chocolate and candy are eaten and teenagers dress up for the parties. Even in countries with no ties to Christianism, where Halloween comes from, October 31 is now celebrated with no regard to tradition. Just like Christmas has lost its religious component among capitalism and family traditions, Halloween is now tied to candy and horror movies.