We all know Halloween as one of the biggest holidays of the year, rife with fun costumes, creepy mysteries, and of course, lots of candy. As many of us prepare to trick-or-treat, throw Halloween parties, and go out with family and friends, other countries and cultures also have their own Halloween traditions. Although Halloween is a huge holiday in the United States and originated there, it has become a worldwide phenomenon due to its cultural impact over the years.
Halloween’s cultural impact includes widespread celebration and consumerism, driving significant demand for seasonal products. Its global impact has been seen around the world in various forms. Halloween’s global syncreticism results from the merging of the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain with Chrstian observances.
In Sicily, the deceased rise from the dead to bring gifts to well-behaved children, while children in Sardinia go door to door to ask for offerings from the deceased. In Rome, people will eat a meal near the gravesites of loved ones, while people in the Abruzzo and Tentino regions create lanterns.
Guatemala also honors the dead during the first couple days of November. During the Barrilentes Gigantes, or “giant kites” festival, the sky is filled with massive, colorful kites that can go up to 40 feet in the air. They’re often hand-painted and flown over the graves of deceased loved ones. The kites are meant to represent the bridge between the living and the dead.
Halloween is a newer holiday in Japan, and it’s become embraced and celebrated there with Japanese influence. Although trick-or-treating isn’t as popular, costumes are very popular and celebrators will often go to Halloween parties in costumes. Japan also has a holiday for celebrating the deceased called Obon.
Halloween’s place of origin is in Ireland, so it’s a very big deal there. Festivals take place across the country, from the Púca festival to the Derry Halloween celebration.
In India, while this modern celebration is growing in urban areas, there are also traditional festivals that are meant to honor the souls of the dead, such as Bhoot Chaturdashi in West Bengal, and Pitru Paksha, which is celebrated all over India. Bhoot Chaturdashi, observed before Diwali, is considered an equivalent to Halloween–it’s a day for warding off evil spirits by lighting 14 candles and preparing a meal with 14 types of leaves. Pitru Paksha is a 16-day period where deceased loved ones are remembered and offered prayers and food, with the belief that the souls of the dead are taken care of during this time. Another common celebration is Shab-e-Barat, a Muslim festival where people often pray at the graves of their ancestors.
Halloween itself has a substantial impact on art and culture over the years by influencing visual art, music, and film across a variety of genres, from supernatural themes in art to creative projects like pumpkin-carivng and memorial altars.
Halloween themes have inspired gothic, surreal, and macabre art. Works by artists like Fransisco Goya and Hieronymous Bosch reflect themes of death and the supernatural that are celebrated during Halloween. These types of art have heavily inspired modern-day installations of hauntingly beautiful and surreal works, often with the incorporation of themes like fear, death and the afterlife in several forms, including paintings, sculptures, and immersive art.
Halloween themes have been integrated into various modern genres, including pop art, street art, and surrealism. The festival’s aesthetic has been utilized to critique, celebrate, or satirize both historical and modern culture.
Some of the most iconic horror film scores are inextricably connected to Halloween, influencing the creation of music that evokes emotions like suspense and terror. One popular example would be John Carpenter’s soundtrack to the popular horror film Halloween, which is known for its simple yet unnerving piano rhythm.
Halloween has also had a substantial economic impact globally by driving billions in consumer spending on costumes, candy, and decorations, creating seasonal jobs in retail and entertainment, and stimulating related industries like agriculture (pumpkins). The Halloween economy is a booming global phenomenon driven primarily by the US, through gaining significant traction in places like China and Japan. American spending, projected to reach a record of $13.1 billion in 2025, continues to fuel demand for costumes for both adults and children, candy, decorations, and pet costumes. The holiday creates lucrative avenues for businesses, including costume shops and retailers who see a huge increase in sales, e-commerce platforms, and manufacturers.
However, the consumption-driven nature of Halloween can also lead to significant waste . In the US, billions of pounds of pumpkins are discarded annually. US tariffs on goods from China have driven up costs for Halloween-related products, leading to higher prices for customers and increased expenses for small businesses.
The economic impact of Halloween is so substantial that American Halloween spending in some years has exceeded the GDP of some countries, underscoring its significance as a major economic event.
More people, including adults and pet owners, participate in Halloween celebrations and dress up, boosting demand for related products. Halloween decorations, and merchandise are appearing in stores earlier and earlier, and the holiday has surged in popularity, creating seasonal opportunities across various industries, contributing to billions in overall economic activity around the world.
