Celebrating Halloween Around the World

We’ve reached the ultimate peak of Spooky Season - Halloween is here! If you’re playing it local this year, there’s still ways to take a trip around the world by celebrating some of these cultural Halloween (adjacent) traditions to make you feel like you’ve traveled to Spain, Japan, or Portugal!

Día de Los Muertos (All Souls Day)

What it is: Celebrated on October 31-November 1 or 2, Día de Los Muertos is a Latin-American tradition meant to honor the dead who are believed to return to their homes for a brief visit.

Celebrated in: Latin-American countries including Spain & Mexico

How you can Celebrate in the U.S.: Local parades, such as the Muertos y Marigolds Parade in Albuquerque, New Mexico, celebrate and honor the cherished tradition with face painting, food, and reflection.

Spooky Trains

What it is: In Japan where trick-or-treating is usually not the norm, the country celebrates by decking out their trains in the best Halloween decor. There are even spooky-themed events hosted in stations with everyone dressed to the tee in their best costumes!

Celebrated in: Japan

How you can Celebrate in the U.S.: You know we love haunted hayrides here in the states, but did you know many of our rail systems host haunted train rides? While most are good fun and family-friendly, we still think the Hoyt-Schermerhorn St. station in Brooklyn is the scariest train station ever (it's where MJ’s “Bad” video was filmed too!)

Pão-por-Deus

What it is: This Portuguese holiday, translated into English as “Bread for God,” is celebrated on November 1st and commemorates soulmass cakes given to children and the less fortunate. Children go door to door reciting traditional rhymes, and ask for “Pão-por-Deus,” and are given small cakes and bread.

Celebrated in: Portugal

How you can Celebrate in the U.S.: We think this is a perfect way for those who don’t want their Halloween to end on the last day of October, and enjoy a treat other than candy! Now we don’t recommend going door to door on Nov. 1 looking for bread, but patronizing a local Portuguese bakery for the country’s signature pastry, pastel de nata, is a fab way to end your spooky season.

As always, stay safe and have fun this weekend in your travels. Happy Halloween, girls! ❤️👻

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