So, how is Halloween celebrated in other cultures? As it is predominantly a British celebration, it isn’t really celebrated very differently in other cultures. The concept of Halloween was later taken to North America by Scottish and Irish immigrants in the 19^th century and has since spread across the world. It has been imported, so to speak, or adopted and popularised by TV and films in many other countries but isn’t actually as big a celebration as it is in Great Britain or in the USA. But it is certainly growing in popularity.

The real variation between cultures is how All Saints Day, or a day of remembering dead souls is celebrated in each country. This of course, is often around the same time as Halloween, like Día de los Muertos in Mexico (The Day of the Dead). This day is often associated with vibrant street parades, but interestingly, many people create mini alters, called ofrendas, adorned with the favourite food of the deceased family member, to entice them back to the home to have a snack. It is a time to come together, and reminisce, telling stories and remembering those who have departed. This day is celebrated in many countries, each with their own unique twist.

In Guatemala, they have a giant kite festival. In Spain, roasted chestnuts are associated with this day, whilst in the Philippines, it’s rice cakes, handed out to children who sing at their neighbours’ doors. Some countries, such as China, have their own celebration to remember the dead on an entirely different day of the year. People in China float lanterns along rivers in memory of the dead at the ‘Hungry Ghost Festival’ around the 14^th and 15^th of July, and Romania has a Halloween-style day on the 30^th October, called the Feast of St Andrew – the patron saint of Romania.

In many European countries, Halloween sees people dressed up in scary costumes, an increase of pumpkins in the shops or horror films in the cinema, some trick or treating and that’s about it…