Halloween
Photo: Don Scarborough, CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons
Halloween is a secular festival which occurs annually on October 31st. It is neither a religious occurrence nor a government-recognized holiday when shops and offices are closed. Primarily a North American event, it has spread to other English-speaking countries, and a bit beyond. Activities usually happen in the evening and at night, involving both the playful and the scary. Depending on the type of Halloween you want, you could have a leisurely excuse to eat candy and dress up like a pirate or a chilling night out touring haunted houses and watching horror films until dawn.
It should not be confused with the Day of the Dead festival, which has different traditions and extends into early November.
UnderstandThe name "Halloween" is a contraction of All Hallows' Eve, from a Christian superstition (some centuries back) that all the ghosts and other strange things would come out on the night before All Saints' Day.
Destinations
DoQuite a few bars host events on Halloween or on the days before. Many, at least, will have specials on drinks like 'witch's brew'.
BuyLike every other holiday and season, Halloween has been commercialised and monetised by various vendors. Among the most common items sold are:
Eat
Stay safe and respectHalloween is about having a good time and some safe (stage managed) scares.
See also
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Halloween" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Don Scarborough, CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons