1. USA: Costumes and "trick-or-treat"
In America, Halloween is a real holiday of costumes and sweets! Children dress up in costumes and go to their neighbors asking "trick or treat?" (a joke or a sweet?). On the streets you can meet everything from cute kittens to creepy monsters. This year I decided that I would put on a costume of my favorite character from childhood and remind everyone that the inner child lives in us forever!

2. Mexico: Day of the Dead
In Mexico, Halloween is intertwined with Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos). This bright and colorful holiday is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd and involves creating altars to honor the dead, decorating graves with flowers, and eating the deceased’s favorite foods. I’ve always wanted to try making my own altar and decorating it with bright flowers and sweets. It would be a great way to honor the memories of those we love!

3. Ireland: The Roots of Halloween
Ireland is considered the birthplace of Halloween! Samhain was originally celebrated here to mark the end of the harvest. On this night, it is believed that the line between the world of the living and the dead is erased. The Irish often place pumpkins with lit candles on their windows to scare away evil spirits. This year, I decided to try making a pumpkin with a face that would symbolize a smile, not fear!

4. Philippines: All Saints' Day
In the Philippines, October 31 is a holiday where people gather at cemeteries to spend time with the dead by cleaning graves and bringing food. It's like a family picnic and reminiscing about loved ones. I've always thought this was a very touching tradition and maybe I should try something like this with my friends - an evening of reminiscing and sharing stories about those who are no longer with us.

Fun Halloween Ideas
Now that we've looked at traditions from different countries, let's add some fun to our celebration:

Costume Night: Have a party where everyone comes in costume from their childhood. This is a great way to have fun and remember funny moments.

Horror Movie Night: Get some friends together and have a horror movie night with popcorn and snacks. But only if you're not afraid of sleeping alone after!

Themed Food: Prepare dishes that match the theme of the holiday. For example, "brain" jello or "bloody" cocktails!

Pumpkin Crafting: Have a pumpkin carving contest. Let the winner get a prize - a box of chocolates!

Fortune Telling: Play "fortune telling" with your friends. This can be a fun and interesting way to find out what the future holds!

I hope you enjoyed these ideas and observations! How are you planning to celebrate Halloween this year? Let's share our plans and have fun together!

With pumpkin smiles,
Maria