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Which Countries Celebrate Halloween?

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ezbzbfcg2
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31 Oct 2018, 8:02 am

I'm an American. I know Halloween is celebrated in the USA. I believe Canadians celibrate it as well. In Mexico and Central American countries, they have the Day of the Dead, tying in to ancient Aztec beliefs of ancestor worship correlated with the Roman Catholic All Hallows' Eve (the day before All Saints' Day).

What other countries celebrate Halloween. The UK? Ireland? Romania? Japan? Jamaica? I'm curious. I'd love to hear from people around the world.



TW1ZTY
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31 Oct 2018, 10:22 am

I've never been to Japan but I think they do celebrate it over there and they celebrate Christmas too. I've seen the holidays referenced in some Japanese video games and shows.



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31 Oct 2018, 12:05 pm

Yes, we do celebrate Halloween every year on Oct 31st in Canada. But finding a trick-or-treat costume that fits over winter coats or even a snowsuit is something of a challenge, even though we don't usually have snow in Cape Breton where live until November at least.

I read that in Japan they don't really care about the religious meanings behind Christmas, they just celebrate it for fun. :)



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31 Oct 2018, 12:10 pm

lostonearth35 wrote:
Yes, we do celebrate Halloween every year on Oct 31st in Canada. But finding a trick-or-treat costume that fits over winter coats or even a snowsuit is something of a challenge, even though we don't usually have snow in Cape Breton where live until November at least.

I read that in Japan they don't really care about the religious meanings behind Christmas, they just celebrate it for fun. :)

Christmas has turned into a kind of worldwide celebration and it isn't celebrated so much for it's religous meaning as much as it is for being a time for families to get together and show each other they care by buying gifts and cooking meals. :)



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31 Oct 2018, 1:01 pm

ezbzbfcg2 wrote:
Which countries celebrate Halloween?
Wikipedia is your friend...
Wikipedia wrote:
The traditions and importance of Halloween vary greatly among countries that observe it. In Scotland and Ireland, traditional Halloween customs include children dressing up in costume going "guising", holding parties, while other practices in Ireland include lighting bonfires, and having firework displays. In Brittany children would play practical jokes by setting candles inside skulls in graveyards to frighten visitors. Mass transatlantic immigration in the 19th century popularized Halloween in North America, and celebration in the United States and Canada has had a significant impact on how the event is observed in other nations. This larger North American influence, particularly in iconic and commercial elements, has extended to places such as Ecuador, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, (most) continental Europe, Japan, and other parts of East Asia. In the Philippines, during Halloween, Filipinos return to their hometowns and purchase candles and flowers, in preparation for the following All Saints Day (Araw ng mga Patay) on 1 November and All Souls Day – though it falls on 2 November, most of them observe it on the day before. In Mexico and Latin American in general, it is referred to as "Día de los Muertos" which translates in English to "Day of the dead". Most of the people from Latin America construct altars in their homes to honor their deceased relatives and they decorate them with flowers and candies and other offerings

Source: Geography of Halloween.

:D



ezbzbfcg2
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01 Nov 2018, 9:03 am

To the above poster:

I don't know where Stendec is, but I'm guessing it's even further past La-La Land. And no, I don't want a link to an airplane crash in South America decades ago.

What I was hoping for was actual people from these places to add their two-cents. Theoretical examples: "I'm from Ecuador, and only a few places actually celebrate Halloween," or "I'm from Australia, but we don't really trick-or-treat, just go to costume parties," or something.

I like Wikipedia, but you can't always believe what it says in passing, especially an article of that caliber. On one had, thanks for the link. On the other, it's just another one of your seemingly useless postings. Sometimes you say things I think are on-point and well-intended. Other times, I think you're out in La-La Land. No, I'm sorry, you're in Stendec.

Well, Halloween has come and gone so I guess this thread has run its course.



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01 Nov 2018, 9:12 am

I think you're being way too OCD. Just because Halloween is over that doesn't mean people can't answer your question anymore.

I live in the U.S. so obviously my country celebrates Halloween. But I came from a small rural town in Georgia in what's known as The Bible Belt and some religous families don't believe in doing Halloween because they think it's an evil holiday. Instead they prefer to do what they call a "Fall Festival".

Personally I love Halloween. :D



ezbzbfcg2
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01 Nov 2018, 9:17 am

TW1ZTY wrote:
I think you're being way too OCD. Just because Halloween is over that doesn't mean people can't answer your question anymore.

I live in the U.S. so obviously my country celebrates Halloween. But I came from a small rural town in Georgia in what's known as The Bible Belt and some religous families don't believe in doing Halloween because they think it's an evil holiday. Instead they prefer to do what they call a "Fall Festival".

Personally I love Halloween. :D


I've already been told Wikpedia will answer all my questions, no need for interaction with people from other countries. :roll:

As for the thread, anyone is more than free to respond. But with Halloween being over, I don't think it will get much more traction. That's all I meant.



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01 Nov 2018, 9:22 am

ezbzbfcg2 wrote:
... What I was hoping for was actual people from these places to add their two-cents.
Then you should have specifically said so in the first place, instead of trolling for the opportunity to snark at well-meaning people.
ezbzbfcg2 wrote:
I like Wikipedia, but you can't always believe what it says in passing, especially an article of that caliber.
Actually, Wikipedia has a higher accuracy rating than the Fox network, and ranks on par with the Encyclopedia Brittanica.
ezbzbfcg2 wrote:
On one had, thanks for the link. On the other, it's just another one of your seemingly useless postings. Sometimes you say things I think are on-point and well-intended. Other times, I think you're out in La-La Land. No, I'm sorry, you're in Stendec.
Your smarmy condescension is noted.



ezbzbfcg2
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01 Nov 2018, 9:28 am

Fnord wrote:
ezbzbfcg2 wrote:
... What I was hoping for was actual people from these places to add their two-cents.
Then you should have said so in the first place.


Go back and read the very last sentence of my original post...

Fnord wrote:
ezbzbfcg2 wrote:
I like Wikipedia, but you can't always believe what it says in passing, especially an article of that caliber.
Actually, Wikipedia has a higher accuracy rating than the Fox network, and ranks on par with the Encyclopedia Brittanica.
That's certainly true. But I take it on an article-by-article basis. That's one of those articles people really big on Halloween love to edit, but doesn't get a lot of attention from more scholarly editors. It's interesting, but like Fox News and the Encyclopedia Brittanica, it too has its possible flaws.

Fnord wrote:
ezbzbfcg2 wrote:
On one had, thanks for the link. On the other, it's just another one of your seemingly useless postings. Sometimes you say things I think are on-point and well-intended. Other times, I think you're out in La-La Land. No, I'm sorry, you're in Stendec.
Your smarmy condescension is noted.
Ah, good, and rightfully so.



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01 Nov 2018, 9:42 am

ezbzbfcg2 wrote:
Fnord wrote:
ezbzbfcg2 wrote:
... What I was hoping for was actual people from these places to add their two-cents.
Then you should have said so in the first place.
Go back and read the very last sentence of my original post...
I did. It reads "I'd love to hear from people around the world", and not "Only actual people from these places need reply". Learn the difference between intent and being literal. And stop re-writing other people's quotes.
ezbzbfcg2 wrote:
Fnord wrote:
ezbzbfcg2 wrote:
I like Wikipedia, but you can't always believe what it says in passing, especially an article of that caliber.
Actually, Wikipedia has a higher accuracy rating than the Fox network, and ranks on par with the Encyclopedia Britannica.
That's certainly true. But I take it on an article-by-article basis. That's one of those articles people really big on Halloween love to edit, but doesn't get a lot of attention from more scholarly editors. It's interesting, but like Fox News and the Encyclopedia Brittanica, it too has its possible flaws.
Then nothing will meet your standards of perfection.
ezbzbfcg2 wrote:
Fnord wrote:
ezbzbfcg2 wrote:
On one had, thanks for the link. On the other, it's just another one of your seemingly useless postings. Sometimes you say things I think are on-point and well-intended. Other times, I think you're out in La-La Land. No, I'm sorry, you're in Stendec.
Your smarmy condescension is noted.
Ah, good, and rightfully so.
And your arrogance, as well.



Deemar
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01 Nov 2018, 12:31 pm

November 1 is All Hallow's Day.
October 31 is the evening before All Hallow's, or all Hallow's Even.
This got shortened to Hallowe'en, or more commonly, Halloween.

It's derived from The Christian belief in a spiritual life after death which is derived mainly from Paganism, like a lot of other religions. I'm guessing any country which is primarily built on pagan beliefs will observe Hallowe'en.



ezbzbfcg2
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01 Nov 2018, 2:15 pm

Fnord wrote:
I did. It reads "I'd love to hear from people around the world", and not "Only actual people from these places need reply". Learn the difference between intent and being literal. And stop re-writing other people's quotes.


Whose quote did I re-write? Anyone is free to reply. But a link to a Wikipedia article, while very nice and very lovely, seems to imply that's all that's needed to answer the question and put an end to the thread. I was hoping to hear from various persons, thought that was self-evident. But thanks for the article...Not knocking Wikipedia, but it's nice to hear more from people actually living in other countries that may/may not celebrate Halloween.

Fnord wrote:
ezbzbfcg2 wrote:
That's certainly true. But I take it on an article-by-article basis. That's one of those articles people really big on Halloween love to edit, but doesn't get a lot of attention from more scholarly editors. It's interesting, but like Fox News and the Encyclopedia Brittanica, it too has its possible flaws.
Then nothing will meet your standards of perfection.


Standards of perfection? I don't get it. I was starting a thread to perhaps hear from others from around the world in addition to any information provided that answered the general question. Thank you for the link to Wikipedia, it helped answer the original question to an extent, but it's one source among many. I also hoped to hear from others. My standards aren't of any sort of perfection, my standards stem from a desire for variety. For more than one source. To hear from people "out there" in these foreign locales. But, again, thanks, you helped answer the question...I think I get your bag now....



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01 Nov 2018, 9:34 pm

I imagine most Western nations celebrate it.

Countries like North Korea and Saudi Arabia are least likely.


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ezbzbfcg2
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02 Nov 2018, 2:20 am

Tim_Tex wrote:
I imagine most Western nations celebrate it.

Countries like North Korea and Saudi Arabia are least likely.


I don't like imagining/assuming. I wanted to ask. I'll be honest, one of my favorite movies is Paris, Texas from the 1980s. Though set in the USA (California, not Texas), Halloween was totally ignored, though it took place in late October/early November. The film was directed by German director Wim Wenders, who probably didn't realized he'd left out the holiday (i.e. decorations when walking down the street in late October Los Angeles).

Now, Wikipedia says Germans started celebrating Halloween in the 1990s. Interesting, I'm thankful for Wiki's input, but to what extent? How common is Halloween celebration in Germany and what form does it take?



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02 Nov 2018, 6:13 pm

We do celebrate Halloween in the UK, but I don't think it's as big as it is in America. I might be wrong, but in America October 31st seems equivalent to December 25th, I think. But I might be wrong.

In the UK, Christmas is the biggest holiday, and it's hard to not be a part of it unless your religion doesn't believe in Christmas. But it's easy to not get involved in Halloween.


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