Halloween traditions in your country

[MMM]

Halloween is just around the corner. Does your country have Halloween traditions?

[GoNative]

Growing up in Australia we never really did anything for Halloween. Certainly never went trick or treating or got dressed up. I believe it's filtered in a bit these days and in some areas kids do go trick or treating now but generally it was always just considered an American thing. Something we only saw on TV but didn't get into ourselves.

I'm interested what is it meant to be about? I could look it up I guess...

[WingsToDiscovery]

Even though the concept of Jack-o-lanterns didn't come from America, I think a lot of people tab it as a kind of American tradition to carve pumpkins (at least from who I've talked to). I actually had the opportunity to carve a pumpkin with some Japanese friends, and none of them had ever done it before. We're also doing a kind of mock trick-or-treat for the Japanese children who live in my neighborhood tomorrow if the weather permits (crappy typhoon weather right now in Tokyo).

Here's a video of the pumpkin carving anyway.
YouTube - Japan Pumpkin Carving 2010

[Jaydelart]

Now that I think about it... Did I ever celebrate halloween in Australia? Hmm...
I'm currently in the U.S., so that one's fairly obvious.


I always hope that some meticulous little kids don't weave their ways through our apartment buildings... because I don't have any candy.
... At least... not for them... muahaha~!

[KungMartin]

Ye pretty much first option=)

there's even a pic of trick or treating in Sweden on the official wikipedia halloween article..

and i'm going to a halloween party today^^

[Suki]

Had to go with the second option. Although I remember when I was like 5, at school we'd go trick-or-treating class by class and the teacher from each class would give us candy. But that was part of an activity for English class. No one really does it outside of school. We have another very common tradition we celebrate on this date and so Halloween is like a plus thing. But yeah, some people do dress up at night and you get free entrace at discos if you're in a costume and stuff.

[evanny]

we don't have any traditions. there are some kids running around but very few and far in between. and grown ups just watch a scary movie and have some drinks or go to a themed club.

[dogsbody70]

well here in UK it never used to be celebrated at all--

but like so many things- we have copied America with its Trick andTreating which I loathe.

[GoNative]

Most of the UK guys I know living in this area said they never did anything for Halloween as kids. I guess it's a pretty recent thing.

[SqueakyRat]

Until recently, Halloween was pretty much nonexistent in Germany, sure, they showed Halloween themed American movies on TV so we were aware of it's existence even as kids, but beyond that, nothing happened.

Nowadays it's a little more prevalent with younger kids, some go trick & treating, Halloween themed merchandise is sold, but it's pretty much just copied from what they've seen in American movies, no cultural background or anything.