Halloween, the celebrated holiday known for its costumes and candy, differs from its origins and how people around the world celebrate it today. It has evolved to become what Americans recognize today; a night of dressing-up, trick-or-treating, partying, pumpkin-carving, and more. However, the origins of Halloween, different nations, and troubling world events portray the differences in the Halloween everyone knows today. 

Halloween, or All Hallows Eve, originated as the Celtic celebration of Samhain, a day that signified the end of the harvest and summer the beginning of winter. Celtics would dress up in costumes and dance around a bonfire to ward off ghosts. Later, when the Roman Empire swallowed most of Celtic land, the celebrations of Samhain and Roman celebrations combined and three holidays emerged; All-Hallows eve, or Halloween, All-Saints day, taking place on November 1st, and All-Souls day, taking place on November 2nd, a day blessed by the church to celebrate the dead. It later became what it is known for today; trick-or-treating and dressing up. 

Freshman Julie Sauve, who was raised in France, explains how it is apparent that the Halloween Americans know differs from Halloweens around the world, such as France. Julie mentions that the main difference between these two is, “How the people are really excited for it. You can see like decorations for Halloween in September… that wouldn’t happen in France.” As she grew up in a bilingual school, she was familiarized with the American culture of Halloween. French children would not usually trick-or-treat, as this activity is not as common as most people think. 

Another example of different celebrations is the Mexican celebration, Day of the Dead. Occurring during October 31-November 2, Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, is when Heaven’s gates are open and spirits can rejoin their families. Freshman Joaquin Toscano describes that Day of the Dead represents another culture’s celebration, “Because we celebrate past family members.” Different cultures around the world have different or additional ways to celebrate Halloween, like Dia de los Muertos.

This celebrated holiday also has differed in past years because of world-wide events that left people too shocked to celebrate. In an interview with Mr. Essex, an English teacher at La Jolla High School, mentions that, “The Halloween after 9/11 nobody was out except myself and my two kids.” It is apparent that during the year 2001, people were too stunned by 9/11 to celebrate Halloween. Another type of event with similar effects on people’s willingness to celebrate Halloween was the COVID-19 pandemic last year. In a serious lockdown, people were ordered to stay home, and the classic traditions of Halloween – parties and trick-or-treating – virtually disappeared. These world-wide issues left a mark on society and altered the course of a regular Halloween.