Global Halloween Traditions: How “Halloween Around the World” Is Evolving

Intermediate | October 30, 2025

✨ Read the article aloud on your own or repeat each paragraph after your tutor.

What Does “Halloween Around the World” Mean?

Every year on October 31, people around the world mark a version of Halloween around the world — but the traditions look wildly different depending on where you are. In some places, it’s pumpkins, candy, and costumes; in others, it’s honoring ancestors or celebrating the end of the harvest season. (history.com)

Origins and Ancient Roots

The celebration has deep origins. For example, the Celtic festival Samhain marked the end of the harvest and the start of winter, when people believed the veil between the living and the dead was thin. (en.wikipedia.org) When Irish and Scottish immigrants brought their traditions to America, costumes and carved lanterns became part of today’s Halloween—but in other parts of the world, local customs took over with their own flavor. (foodfamilytravel.com)

How Halloween Around the World Looks Today

In Mexico, for example, Día de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) honors ancestors with colorful altars and skull decorations. In Japan, festivals such as Obon reflect similar themes of remembrance and family. (foodfamilytravel.com) In the U.S. and parts of Europe, you’ll see trick-or-treating, haunted houses, and pumpkins galore. Meanwhile, places like the Isle of Man still celebrate traditional turnip lanterns during their festival of Hop-tu-Naa, which links back to Samhain. (thesun.ie)

Why “Halloween Around the World” Matters for English Learners

When we talk about Halloween around the world, we’re not just talking fun and games. We’re talking culture, history, language, and global connections. Talking about these traditions helps you practice vocabulary like gatherings, ancestors, remembrance, festivals, customs, and heritage. You can use it to build stronger sentences, tell stories, and connect with international friends.

Your Takeaway: What You Can Do

If you want to talk about Halloween in English, think about how you might explain a tradition from your country, or find a new one and describe how it compares to others. For example: “In my country, we … whereas in another country they …” Reading articles like this out loud helps you with rhythm, natural phrasing, and vocabulary related to culture and celebration.

Vocabulary

Gathering (noun) – an event where people come together.
Example: “The festival ended with a large gathering in the town square.”
Ancestor (noun) – a person from whom one is descended, typically more distant than a grandparent.
Example: “Families make altars to honor their ancestors during Día de los Muertos.”
Remembrance (noun) – the act of remembering someone or something.
Example: “Many traditions around the world include remembrance of the dead.”
Festival (noun) – a day or period of celebration, often tied to culture or religion.
Example: “Hop-tu-Naa is a festival on the Isle of Man that celebrates ancient traditions.”
Custom (noun) – a traditional practice or usual way of doing something.
Example: “Trick-or-treating is a custom that spread to many countries.”
Lantern (noun) – a container for a light source, often used for festivals.
Example: “Carving lanterns out of pumpkins or turnips is part of many Halloween traditions.”
Heritage (noun) – practices or culture handed down from previous generations.
Example: “The community takes pride in its heritage of seasonal celebrations.”
Costume (noun) – a set of clothes worn to look like someone or something else.
Example: “Children wore costumes inspired by local legends and international movies.”
Harvest (noun) – the gathering of crops at the end of the growing season.
Example: “In ancient festivals, the harvest marked a transition into winter.”
Adaptation (noun) – a change made to suit different conditions or circumstances.
Example: “Halloween has seen many adaptations in countries around the world.”

Discussion Questions (About the Article)

Which tradition mentioned in the article surprised you the most and why?
How do different cultural celebrations of Halloween compare in your country versus abroad?
How might you explain one of the customs in your own words to someone who’s never heard of it?
Why do you think festivals like Halloween travel across borders and evolve?
If you were planning a “global Halloween” event, how would you combine traditions from at least two countries?

Discussion Questions (About the Topic)

How does learning about traditions from other cultures help your English speaking skills?
Have you ever experienced a holiday or festival in another country? How did it feel?
When people bring their traditions to other countries, what changes and what stays the same?
In your opinion, does globalization make cultural traditions richer or more uniform (or both)?
If you could introduce one tradition from your country to the world, what would it be and why?

Related Idiom

“When in Rome” – meaning when you are in a different place you should follow its customs.
Example: “When celebrating Halloween in Japan, you might join local parades — when in Rome, so to speak!”

📢 Want more tips like this? 👉 Sign up for the All About English Mastery Newsletter! Click here to join us!

Want to finally Master English but don’t have the time? Mastering English for Busy Professionals is the course for you! Check it out now!

Follow our YouTube Channel @All_About_English for more great insights and tips.

This article was inspired by: Food Family Travel (published about October 2025) and History.com (“Halloween Around the World: Traditions, Customs & Global …”).