Top 10 Countries Hosting the Most Spectacular Halloween Celebrations Worldwide

Halloween has become a widely celebrated festival around the world. However, Halloween in each country carries its own unique color and style of its people. Halloween is known as the Day of the Dead in Mexico, and one cannot overlook the costumes, food... which are indispensable parts of this festive season. In Mexico, the Halloween festival also has very distinctive features.

Halloween festivals in countries around the world mostly take place on October 31st every year. However, in Mexico, it's different. The Halloween festival here is the Day of the Dead, which is much more grandiose than Halloween elsewhere and usually takes place from October 31st to November 2nd each year. Halloween for Mexicans is celebrated on the night before November 1st, the Feast of All Saints' Day, a Catholic day commemorating saints and martyrs. Then comes the Feast of All Souls' Day on November 2nd.

Halloween in the United States is celebrated with great enthusiasm by both children and adults. While children go trick-or-treating on the evening of October 31st, adults aged 18 to 24 often host or attend costume parties. Those aged 25 to 44 accompany children for trick-or-treating or carve pumpkins into Jack-O'Lanterns. Most individuals over 45 stay at home to give out candy to trick-or-treaters. Halloween is the second largest holiday celebration in the United States after Christmas, with Americans spending significantly on decorations, costumes, and candy. In recent years, retailers have generated over $40 million in revenue from the holiday season.

In the United States, housewives have been carving pumpkins into human faces for hundreds of years. According to Irish folklore, there was a man named Stingy Jack who invited a devil for a drink. However, Stingy Jack did not want to pay for the drinks, so he tricked the devil into turning into a coin to pay for their drinks. Jack quickly grabbed the coin and placed it in his pocket, which also contained a silver cross that prevented the devil from returning to his original form. However, Jack eventually released the devil on the condition that the devil would not bother him for a year, and if Jack died, the devil would not claim his soul.

Ireland, known as the birthplace of Halloween, celebrates the holiday much like the United States. On this day, children dress up in various costumes and spend the night playing 'trick or treat' with their neighbors. After 'trick or treating,' most people attend parties with their neighbors and friends. At these gatherings, they play games like 'apple bobbing' - a game where apples are placed in water-filled tubs or hung from trees, and players try to bite into the apples.

People in Ireland also often play cards. Cards are spread out on tables with candies and coins hidden beneath each card. When children pick a card, they receive whatever prize is hidden underneath. A popular traditional food for Halloween is barnbrack, eagerly awaited not only for its delicious taste but also for the humorous surprises hidden inside. Finding a ring in a slice means the eater is about to find their true love, while finding a straw means a year of prosperity awaits them. Children also often play some 'magic tricks' with their neighboring families, such as 'knock a dolly.'

The people of Germany love dressing up, going out to sing, dance, and watch pumpkin lanterns - the products of family competitions. Hence, the streets throughout Germany always become crowded when the festival takes place - it's considered the most magnificent Halloween celebration. Additionally, there's a tradition of throwing knives out onto the streets to prevent the return of spirits. Similar to the English, Germans aren't overly fond of Halloween. Some families used to refrain from touching knives on this day, fearing that demons would 'appear' and cause them to suffer severe injuries, although this belief is no longer widespread.

On Halloween in Germany, families gather to eat candy corn - a candy invented by Germans, specifically by the Goelitz Confectionery company in the 1880s. This candy later became a staple at Halloween parties worldwide, sparking fierce debates over its taste. Regardless, German youth mostly see Halloween as an opportunity to party and hang out. During this period, from October 24th to 31st, many places in Germany host extravagant Halloween parties. For example, Burg Frankenstein often organizes events for children on October 24th and for adults from October 29th to 31st. To attend these parties, people must purchase tickets. Luisenpark hosts a grand festival on October 31st. The Halloween festival at Heidelberg Castle is held on October 31st. Tucherland usually throws a big party for children aged 12 and under on October 31st.

In Romania, this is also one of the remarkable October festivals celebrated quite grandly. This festival was introduced to Romania in the 1980s. On this day, houses are decorated with pumpkins, and people gather together to play Trick or Treat. Halloween in Romania is very appealing to tourists due to its eerie and mysterious atmosphere. Romanians have been hearing about vampire legends and blood-sucking demons since childhood. Therefore, the image of demons is always a characteristic feature of this festival here.

Children dress up in costumes and devil-shaped masks, carrying lanterns from house to house in the neighborhood, knocking on doors and saying 'trick or treat', meaning 'If you don't want us to play a trick on you, treat us.' Consequently, most neighbors usually welcome them with treats like candies and fruits, sometimes with coins hidden inside. Another October Halloween festival is approaching, are you ready to dress up as spooky characters and join unique games to bring an impressive night?

Halloween in Belgium is celebrated in a very different way as instead of organizing it on October 31st every year, they host this festival right from the beginning of October. The Halloween atmosphere fills Belgium from the start of the month with costumes, street festivals, and music. Here, Halloween is welcomed with traditional games by the bonfire, traditional foods like Barmbrack - a type of fruitcake containing coins, rings, and other fortune-telling items, and beer.

Moreover, Belgians also maintain the tradition of fortune-telling on this day. They believe that if a girl finds a ring in her cake or mashed potatoes, it means she will get married on the next Halloween day. Additionally, children engage in some quirky games like knocking on neighbors' doors and running away before the homeowner answers. In some houses, they demand treats before moving on to the next one.

Halloween in Austria doesn't just happen on the last day of October, and they also don't organize costume parties. Austrians welcome spirits by placing a glass of water, bread, and lighting a candle on the table before going to bed from October 30th to November 8th. Additionally, this is an occasion for them to clean up the graves of loved ones in the cemetery. Slightly different from other European countries, Halloween in Austria extends throughout the week.

It is believed that Halloween is a time for the dead to return to their families, a festival for the deceased. Therefore, on October 31st, each family will place a candle or lantern inside the house, along with bread and water to guide their departed loved ones. In the following days, Austrians visit the graves of their relatives every night, decorating them brightly with lanterns, candles, wreaths, candies, and more. Some families even hold memorial services for the deceased.