Where is Halloween Celebrated?

Where is Halloween Celebrated?

Although getting free candy and dressing up like scary monsters may sound like it has a global appeal, Halloween is only widely celebrated in Ireland, England, the United States and Canada. With the rise of globalization, Halloween and its traditions have been broadcast to the world, so there are those who celebrate it in other countries, but purely on a secular basis, and rarely linked to the original traditions of the holiday.

In Mexico, Latin America and other Spanish-speaking countries—many of which are predominantly Catholic and observe Christian traditions—a holiday called Dia de Los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) is celebrated from October 31-November 2. On October 31, children make altars to invite the spirits of dead children to return. On November 1, Dia de Los Inocentes (All Saints Day), it is believed that adult spirits come back to cross into the land of the living. Finally, on November 2, the actual Dia de Los Muertos, families go to the grave sites of their relatives for a sacred celebration, bringing food, flowers, music, stories and memories, sharing a holiday with their loved ones who have passed.

A still from the movie Coco (Photo Credit: Pixar Animation Studios)

A Final Word

As one of the oldest holidays in the world, Halloween continues to capture the imagination of adults and children alike—and send shivers down their spine! There is a long, complex and often controversial history behind Halloween’s evolution from a sacred pagan festival to a whimsical excuse for candy-grabbing in American suburbs, but one thing can be said about this holiday—it is a yearly reminder that we can (and should) respect the memory of the past.