Despite the fact that its origins can be traced back to the British Isles, Halloween is known as a primarily American holiday. Religious holidays, such as All Saints Day and All Souls Day, occur around the same time as Halloween and are also often seen as a precursor to the modern commercial event of Halloween. Though the festivities are not as widespread as in the US, where virtually every neighborhood takes part in the spooky decorations and trick-or-treating, there are plenty of worthwhile events occurring across the Atlantic as well. And, with October being the beginning of Europe’s low season (when airfare and hotel prices are cheaper than the summer) it is a great time to visit. This in-between time is often referred to as the shoulder season which usually includes spring, Easter through about June, and fall, late September to mid/late November–right now!
Disneyland Paris puts on a Halloween event in the Main Street USA section of the park. Trick-or-treating and Halloween-themed haunted happenings are the main attractions. A more authentic celebration of the supernatural can be found at the Fête des Sorcières (Witch Festival), which takes place in Chalindrey, Northern France, on the days leading up to Halloween. Like Mexico’s Day of the Dead, French people decorate and hold vigils at the graves of their ancestors on November 1st, which is known as All Saints Day to people who practice Catholicism.
The same is true in Spain. Families visit the graves of their forbearers on November 1st. Traditionally, the play Don Juan Tenorio, simply known as Don Juan to most people in the US, is performed. In some provinces of Northern Spain, where people have Celtic roots, Celtic traditions like the carving of pumpkins take place.
England and Ireland are where Halloween-type celebrations began. In England, jack-o-lantern carving and trick-or-treating are more widespread than in other parts of Europe. Haunted houses and scary storytelling events are also quite popular.
An overview of late-October celebrations across Europe can be found at here.
