The world celebrates a unique Halloween during the pandemic.

The origins of Halloween

Halloween is believed to have originated over 2,000 years ago, beginning with Samhain (November 1st) – the Celtic New Year. According to Celtic beliefs, the day before the holiday, when the boundary between the living and the dead became blurred, demons, angels, and the spirits of the dead would return to the mortal world, free to roam everywhere. At that time, the Celts would disguise themselves so that the spirits wouldn't recognize them, and they would light fires and prepare delicious food in the hope of gaining the spirits' favor.

European immigrants later brought Halloween to the Americas, and the holiday became popular in the United States in the 1800s. Consequently, European folk customs and beliefs blended with existing agricultural traditions, becoming a major celebration that symbolized the spooky and mysterious, while also signaling the approaching harvest season. Gradually, Halloween also spread to Asian and Australian countries and has become one of the most popular global festivals in modern times.

Every Halloween, Westerners decorate pumpkins into lanterns so that spirits can find their way and not disturb the homeowners. Children also dress up as ghosts and go door-to-door asking for candy, using the familiar phrase "Trick or Treat?". If they don't receive any treats, the children will try to play tricks on the homeowners. This game is a variation of a medieval custom where poor people, instead of receiving food, would pray for the souls of the dead on All Souls' Day.

Returning to the present, in 2021, are you curious about how countries are preparing for Halloween? In the context of the pandemic, organizing a grand Halloween celebration might be impossible, yet many countries have made tremendous efforts to bring back the familiar atmosphere of a vibrant Halloween season, despite the gloom that the pandemic has created for so long.

Los Angeles (USA)

This year, the Halloween atmosphere seems somewhat less lively than in pre-pandemic years, as California has faced a continuous surge in COVID-19 cases for months. However, positive signs regarding the pandemic situation in recent times have brought some relief to Californians, who have begun planning some Halloween games, even if only a few weeks before the holiday. Thanks to the widespread availability of vaccines, locals now feel safer and more secure about organizing these activities.

Los Angeles will reopen entertainment venues such as bars, pubs, pubs, and nightclubs, and hold large events to celebrate Halloween, allowing residents to participate in all of these activities if they can prove they have been vaccinated. City parks – where large-scale annual Halloween events take place – will also have to implement this measure to ensure the safest possible holiday season.

One of the highlights in Los Angeles is Haunt 'O Ween LA – a child-friendly Halloween adventure held annually from October 1st to October 31st. It features numerous attractions decorated in the mysterious and spooky style of traditional Halloween. While the events continue as in previous years, the Los Angeles city government discourages children from playing Trick or Treat, as going door-to-door and receiving food from others is not considered safe in terms of pandemic prevention.

Florence (Italy)

Florence is a place with countless exciting events every Halloween season. Shows, costume parties, family games, and many other activities are held in every corner of the city. Despite being a country heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, Italy has made steady efforts in combating the virus and is currently one of the countries in the world implementing policies to safely coexist with Covid-19.

This year's Halloween will feature numerous events in Florence. However, residents must adhere to safety regulations, such as mandatory mask-wearing and the requirement of a green card to participate. One of the highlights is a Halloween-themed puppet show at the famous Hard Rock Cafe, where artists from the Pupi di Stac puppet theater will perform on October 31st. Audiences will get to watch the artists reenact a series of spooky stories while enjoying light snacks provided by the restaurant. Additionally, a costume party will also be held at the Hard Rock Cafe on Halloween night.

In addition, Florence also hosted a children's event on October 31st organized by the Children's Lending Library. After being closed for over a year and a half, the library officially reopened on October 17th, and to celebrate this important milestone, St. James Episcopal Church – where the library is located – held a large Halloween festival with parades, readings, and games related to the holiday. All activities took place in the church's gardens.

Mexico

Although Halloween is not a traditional Mexican holiday, Mexico hosts many events leading up to it, such as costume parties and concerts. However, Mexico is known worldwide for another unique festival that takes place in early November, not just Halloween.Day of the Dead (Día de los muertos)While Halloween is famous for its spooky and terrifying stories, the Day of the Dead is a festival of parades, parties, singing, and dancing. It's a time when Mexicans remember their deceased loved ones, not with sorrow and grief, but with joy and boundless love.

This year, despite the pandemic, Mexico will still hold parades and other prominent events related to the Day of the Dead. In Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, the 2021 parade will take place on October 31st, an event expected to attract a large number of international tourists to Mexico to participate in this major holiday.

The parade around the city center will take place at midnight on October 31st with over 1,000 participants. With the theme “Tenochtitlan, Heart of Mexico,” this year’s event will celebrate the beauty of Mexico City in modern times – a vibrant, colorful, and incredibly attractive city in the eyes of the international community. In addition to traditional offerings, at Plaza Manuel Tolsa, Mexico City will also set up offerings to commemorate the victims of the Covid-19 pandemic, expressing love and respect for those loved ones who have passed away due to the disease.

Transylvania (Romania)

Romania is famous for its vampire legends, so every Halloween season, a gloomy and mysterious atmosphere permeates the festival venues, especially Bran Castle, located in the remote border region of Transylvania – one of Romania's largest Halloween festival locations. Every year, spooky events are held at this medieval castle, and this year is no exception.

Known as the "Castle of the Vampire Count," Bran Castle is an ideal destination, attracting many tourists with a passion for thrilling and terrifying vampire stories. However, due to pandemic restrictions, all those participating in adventures to Bran Castle must strictly adhere to safety regulations.

Tokyo (Japan)

Not only European countries, but several Asian nations also celebrate Halloween on a large scale, one of which is Japan. Halloween is not an official holiday in Japan, but it has become a popular event since Tokyo Disneyland first held it in 2000. Currently, it is one of the biggest events celebrated in Japan on October 31st every year.

Halloween in Japan is slightly different from other countries, with costumes and parties being the main focus, while traditional Halloween pranks and activities are often simplified. Additionally, pumpkins are not only used as decorations but are also incorporated into various dishes during this Halloween celebration.

This year, Tokyo Disneyland held its first Halloween event in two years due to the pandemic. Besides dressing up in elaborate costumes in various styles, guests also had the opportunity to take photos and participate in a special parade featuring Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters. Starting this week, Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disneysea increased their maximum visitor limit to 10,000 while still adhering to all necessary COVID-19 prevention measures.

Another highly anticipated event is the Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival 2021, taking place on October 30th and 31st. This is one of the biggest costume events in Japan and attracts tens of thousands of participants each year.

Singapore

The Halloween atmosphere in Singapore remains largely unchanged from previous years, with activities still being held in abundance. Instead of focusing on large-scale outdoor events, Singapore primarily concentrates on indoor activities and creating spooky experiences to appeal to the brave. This year, to join in the spooky Halloween spirit, Singapore has organized several exciting events such as: the Trick-or-Treat game at the newly opened Ice Cream Museum (opened last month), exploring the mystery of the murder case at the haunted Changi Hospital, and a terrifying Halloween night at Universal Studios Singapore (USS),...

One of the most thrilling yet captivating events that has garnered widespread attention is the haunted ship exploration trip on Asia's leading luxury cruise ship, the Royal Albatross. Participants will embark on a four-day voyage at sea on a cruise ship that has been redecorated in a horror-themed style.

Khanh Ha