How is Halloween celebrated around the globe?
By: Morgan Kafana

Every kid looks forward to Oct. 31 when they can put on a costume and go from door to door collecting a sweet treat. However, Halloween isn’t celebrated the same way in other places around the world like it is in the United States, which poses the question how is Halloween celebrated around the world?
In China, foreign teachers introduced Halloween to the children in school. However, the Chinese don’t celebrate Halloween and the traditional activities like trick or treating and dressing in costumes isn’t popular. They have however taken the concept of dressing up in costumes and changed Halloween to a party day in restaurants and bars. In addition, they also decorate with pictures of black cats, ghosts and monsters just like the United States does.
Halloween might be our version of a day for the dead and in China they have four days for the dead. These days include Hungry Ghost Festival, Qing Ming Festival, Double 9 Festival and the Spring Festival.
However, in Cuba Halloween isn’t at all celebrated or used as a reference. In fact, the Cubans celebrate “Dia de Los Fieles Difuntos on Nov. 2 which is a day that they remember their ancestors. On this day, families eat an early meal, and they go to the cemetery where they clean off their loved one’s grave, install a spotlight for the evening and place flowers on the grave. Then in the evening the families return to their loved one’s grave with candles and silently take the time to remember their dead loved ones.
Interestingly, South Africa doesn’t celebrate Halloween at all. The main reasoning for this is due to a concern for safety. Parents are concerned to let their kids go out on dark streets to trick or treat with so many strangers out. South Africa has been slowly having both private and public parties at nightclubs where a Halloween theme is set for a party. Costumes are also worn for the purpose of celebrating but not for a religious meaning.
“Halloween is mostly celebrated in the US and Canada but countries from around the world are getting more and more in on the fun,” said Dr. Rojas, a doctor at West Liberty who teaches Spanish.
Even though we have grown up our entire lives with the tradition of costumes and free candy, it’s always fascinating to learn how other places in the world celebrate Halloween. It just goes to show that the world is filled with many unique traditions and views of how this holiday should be celebrated.