Top 10 Countries with the Most Unique Halloween Traditions Worldwide

In Austria, Halloween is not only celebrated on the last day of October, and it doesn't involve costume parties. Instead, Austrians honor the spirits by placing a glass of water, bread, and a candle on the table before they sleep, from October 30 to November 8.

This period also serves as a time to clean the graves of their deceased loved ones in the cemetery. Unlike other countries, on Halloween, Austrians visit cemeteries to light candles and decorate tombstones with wreaths or vases of water, believing it is a way to greet the spirits returning on the "Day of the Dead".

In Germany, beyond the ubiquitous pumpkin lanterns found in every home, one of the most popular Halloween activities is the costume party. Germans celebrate this festival with great joy and excitement.

They wear traditional spooky costumes, singing and dancing around large bonfires all night long. A unique tradition in Germany during Halloween is the practice of hiding knives inside the house, as they believe this helps spirits return without causing harm.

In Spain, Halloween is celebrated in a relatively simple way. Like Austria, people in Spain visit cemeteries to clean the graves, as they believe that the spirits of the departed return during this time. In preparation, they offer items for their loved ones' spirits.

This includes preparing the deceased's favorite foods, along with candies, fruits, drinks, and even a cloth for the spirits to use during the feast.

In Italy, Halloween is considered a national holiday, with schools closed and government offices mostly shut. On this day, families prepare a large meal for the spirits of their departed loved ones. After everything is ready, the family heads to church and stays there for the day. A special tradition is leaving the door open to allow the spirits to enter and enjoy the feast freely.

Italians believe that if the table remains untouched by evening, it signifies that the spirits have rejected the family, and that the next year will bring misfortune. One distinctive dish served at Italian Halloween feasts is a spooky cake called 'Dead Man's Bean Cake.'

Guatemala, a country in Central America, has one of the longest Halloween celebrations, starting on October 31st and lasting until November 7th. A distinctive feature of Halloween in Guatemala is that most adults dress up as ghosts or demons to scare children.

On the final day of the celebration, people build large bonfires in front of their homes and throw all sorts of trash into the flames. For Guatemalans, this is a ritual known as the 'burning of evil spirits.'

Although Halloween originated in Europe, the people of Japan also enthusiastically celebrate this holiday. However, rather than celebrating Halloween in the European style, they observe a festival called Obon. This festival shares similarities with Halloween in that it honors the spirits of the departed.

During Obon, people prepare food with great care and hang red lanterns everywhere. They also light candles in small lanterns and float them down rivers. Unlike Halloween, which falls on October 31st, Obon usually takes place in July or August.

During Halloween in Europe, the Chinese celebrate a similar festival known as Cheng Chieh. On this day, people offer food and drinks to the photos of their deceased relatives.

Additionally, they light lanterns to guide the spirits back to their families. The Chinese also believe that wandering spirits can be dangerous, so offerings and rituals are performed to help them find peace and return to the afterlife during the Cheng Chieh festival.

A distinct tradition in the UK during Halloween is the lighting of bonfires and lanterns. However, instead of carving pumpkins like many other countries, the British use turnips to make lanterns, called punkies. Children carry these punkies as they go door-to-door asking for treats.

In some regions, turnip lanterns are placed outside homes to guide wandering spirits on Halloween night. Another British custom involves throwing items like stones, vegetables, and nuts into the fire to ward off evil spirits still lingering around.

In the United States, Halloween is the second-largest holiday during the winter season, right after Christmas. By early October, the country is filled with decorations celebrating the spooky season. On Halloween night, children are the most excited. The tradition of 'Trick or Treat' sees kids dressed in costumes, carrying baskets to go door-to-door asking for candy with a cheerful 'Trick or treat?' (meaning 'Give me candy or face the trick'). They ask for candles, apples, and other goodies.

While Halloween is most eagerly anticipated by kids, it's not just for them. Adults of all ages participate in various ways—those aged 18 to 24 often host or attend costume parties, people from 25 to 44 take their kids out for candy or carve pumpkins, and those over 45 usually stay home handing out treats to the little ones knocking on the door.

In Ireland, Halloween is celebrated much like in the United States, with costume parties and festivities. A traditional game on this day involves hanging an apple from a tree branch. Participants must jump high enough to bite into the apple, with candy or money awarded to the winner.

A classic Irish treat for Halloween is barnbrack, a fruitcake. Traditionally, a straw or a small cloth ring is hidden inside the cake. If someone bites into the ring, it signals good news ahead, while the straw foretells a year of success in business for the person who finds it.