And Some Aren’t for the Faint of Heart
Halloween looms! Witches, zombies and gruesome ghouls of the night will roam the lands of Ireland, where Halloween began, and Canada, England and the U.S., where it took root.
Yet, Halloween is gaining ground in Mexico, Australia, parts of Europe and Asia, and no one is safe. So, beware!
Some Christians object to a holiday with pagan origins and a focus on demons, monsters and such. But they may be fighting a losing battle.
In preparation for Oct. 31, many people in the western world and beyond are carving pumpkins or turnips, collecting apples for bobbing, adding new details to favorite ghost stories, and dusting off old costumes.
Meanwhile, some church groups are hosting trunk-or-treats,
Ireland: Where Halloween Began
Halloween or Hallowe’en is rooted in the Celts’ fall festival of Samhain (aka Samhainn or Sauin) in pre-Roman Ireland and Britain. (FYI: It’s pronounced Sah-win or Sow-win or something similar.)
Samhain was a pagan celebration of the harvest, summer’s end, and autumn. But it also was an acknowledgement that death loomed in the coming cold, hard winters.
Celts believed the dead walked among the living and the power of magic reached its peak during Samhain. Evil spirits were present, according to Celtic legends, and villagers built large bonfires and wore costumes to drive the spirits away. Some of these ancient people also hollowed out turnips, carved faces onto them and placed lighted candles inside to scare away unwanted spirits.
Halloween Looms in England
The English have celebrated Halloween for many years by dressing up as skeletons, ghosts and witches. More modern characters have appeared in recent times.
British children will celebrate Halloween 2025 as they usually observe the holiday — by listening to ghost stories, trick-or-treating and bobbing for apples. (The apples may be a nod to the ancient Roman goddess of fruit and trees, whose symbol was the apple.)
Some people will decorate their homes with Halloween ornaments and jack-‘o-lanterns as a way of inviting trick-or-treaters to come by. And some will invite their families and friends to spend Halloween evening watching scary movies. Adults also may dress up for Halloween-themed parties or other events at pubs and nightclubs.
Canada Celebrates!
Irish and Scottish immigrants brought Halloween to Canada in the 19th century. Canadians will celebrate the holiday by wearing costumes, attending parties, and carving jack-o’-lanterns. There’s also trick-or-treating for the kids.
Although Halloween looms, it isn’t a public holiday. Yet, Canadians spend millions of dollars on costumes, food and other Halloween-related items. Oct. 31 is a significant time to have fun.
Costumes and makeup will transform ordinary people into vampires, witches and characters in popular culture for the night. Treats will include candied beaver tails (actually, crispy fried pastries coated with cinnamon and sugar). And some people will combine this treat with a concoction called Poutine, which consists of fries, cheese curds and gravy.
Other favorites will include ghost cupcakes — which are topped with frosting that’s swirled into ghostly shapes with small eyes and a mouth — and witch-finger almond cookies.
The cookies are made from shortbread cookie dough that’s shaped into creepy-looking fingers. Sliced almonds represent the fingernails, and red food gel or jam along the nails gives them a bloody appearance.
Halloween Looms Among Hispanics!
In Latin America and the United States, Hispanics have combined Oct. 31st Halloween traditions with Dia de los Muertos – the Day of the Dead – which is commemorated on Nov. 1-2.
Dia de los Muertos isn’t Halloween, but rather, a joyful day when people remember and honor dead ancestors and loved ones. It’s also a reminder that death is part of life.
Dia de los Muertos is rooted in traditions of indigenous peoples in Mexico and the Spanish conquistadors who introduced Catholic customs such as All Saints Day and All Souls Day.
There will be parades, social gatherings, festivals and music. The scent of pan de muerto, a soft round bread seasoned with anise and orange zest, will fill many homes. Sugar skulls, marigolds and candles will decorate home altars, and many people will attend mass and decorate family graves with colorful flowers.
Halloween Blossoms in Australia
Halloween has become increasingly popular in Australia, although Australians have celebrated the holiday for more than 150 years ago. Some families will decorate their homes with orange balloons and Halloween-themed decorations, and some trick-or-treaters will collect candy during the day.
A growing number of communities plan to create elaborate Halloween displays, and people will carve jack-o’-lanterns from watermelons or pineapples. (October falls during Australia’s spring season when pumpkins are not usually available.)
Halloween-inspired Costumes & Events in Japan
Halloween looms in Japan, and costumes will be the order of the day. The Japanese people love wearing vibrant costumes, attending parades, and participating in theme park events and street parties that take the place of trick-or-treating.
Parents will take their children to activities sponsored by schools, Tokyo Disneyland and Universal Studios Japan. Some communities will hold events that blend Halloween traditions with Japanese culture, including the Parade of a Hundred Demons festival. The festival takes place just before Halloween and features people wearing costumes depicting spirits, devils and monsters.
And Speaking of Monsters…. Halloween Looms Across the U.S.
Halloween is huge in the U.S., but beware. You may discover that the scariest costumes this season are not the traditional ghoul and goblin get-ups we have come to expect.
The scariest monsters this Halloween are the ones who are real. Monsters like Musk, Johnson and Trump. —> You won’t find them lurking in dark corners to claim your soul.
They want much more. They want to claim America’s soul and the power and money that go with it.
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