How different countries celebrate Halloween by M. Liaw

Ranking as the second most popular holiday in the world, Halloween can be celebrated all around the globe on October 31st. There is something about Halloween candy that attract youngsters; it is not just about quantity or quality of the candy it is the fact that you are allowed endless piles of sugar without parental consent. Children from all over the world dress up in spooky costumes and walk around neighbourhoods yelling "trick or treat" in exchange for candy from friendly homeowners. Well, the truth is we have actually only experienced this American stereotype. In other countries, Halloween is celebrated in a variety of ways. Which leads to the question, how is Halloween celebrated elsewhere?
 
            Unlike the US, Halloween is not that popular in Latin America, Spain, or Mexico. Instead, Día de los Muertos (All Souls' Day) is observed on November 2nd. Traditionally, people paint their faces, dress up in ethnic clothing and visit the graves of loved ones. Alike Halloween this holiday involves the dead nevertheless, its goal is to allow the dead to visit their homes and families instead of scaring them away. In addition, many families decorate their homes with food, flowers, and water, as well as altars to honour the deceased. These altars can be found virtually anywhere including a number of schools, churches and other public places.
 
            On November 5th, the UK celebrates Guy Fawkes Day, also known as Bonfire Night, to rejoice the execution of Guy Fawkes, a soldier who attempted to burn up England's Houses of Parliament along with King James I and the government. Customarily, people enjoy this holiday by lighting bonfires with friends and family and releasing fireworks into the sky. Unfortunately, the English holiday is fading as Halloween overthrows the Guy Fawkes Day. Carving terrifying faces into vegetables, bobbing your head into a basin of water to get apples, and visiting haunted houses are all popular Halloween activities in Great Britain nowadays.
 
            Thankfully, different cultures have distinct methods, names, and ways of celebrating this and many other festivals. Halloween began as a holiday in which people would light bonfires and dress up in scary costumes to scare off ghosts and bad spirits, but it has since expanded to include activities for children, and parties for adults.