As the air turns a bit chilly, hot beverages become more comforting, flickering jack-oโ-lanterns catch your eye, spooky decorations emerge, and the scent of autumn extends across like open arms. You know it is time for Halloween!ย Halloween is an exciting time of year across the globe. There are countless ways to mark this beloved holiday, from innovative costumes to spooky decorations. Canada has many activities, whether you are looking for a way to get into the spirit with family or friends or a fun night out. From haunted houses and pumpkin festivals to costume contests and trick-or-treating, we will get into every detail to ensure you have a spook-tacular October.ย Get ready to have a scream this Halloween, Canada, because hauntingly fun times await your presence!
Is Halloween 2024 Supposed To Be A Public Holiday?
Halloween in Canada 2024 is celebrated on the 31st of October each year. Although the festival is celebrated with much pizazz and character, it is not a public holiday in any part of the world. Another name for Halloween is the Eve of All Hallows. Though not a religious holiday, it is celebrated the night before All Saint’s Day, also known as Allhallows, which falls on 1st November. In fact, Halloween is a shortened version of All Hallows’ Eve. Children usually dress up to school in their favourite costumes and go trick-or-treating.ย
Ps. Sometimes, even offices allow employees to dress up as something scarier than the deadlines!
How Does Canada Celebrate Halloween Day in Canada
Did you know that contrary to popular belief, Halloween originates in British and Irish traditions rather than in North America? In Celtic religion, the festival of Samhain is celebrated on the first of November. It is believed that during this time, the boundary between the spirit world and our world becomes thinner. This is why festivals such as Halloween, Samhain, and Dรญa de Muertos are observed between October 31st and November 2nd. After Christmas, Halloween is one of the most commercial holidays in Canada. People decorate their homes with pumpkins, inflatables, and sculptures.ย
During this time, contests are organised to determine the best house decor in Canada. Children and even adults dress up as their favourite characters for trick-or-treating and attending numerous events. Pranks are an integral part of the Halloween celebrations in Canada.ย Letโs hope the competition to install scarier decor is less serious than the one between Clair and Phil Dunphy!
Some important ingredients for this festival are:
Raiding the Pumpkinsย
Pumpkins are very popular for Halloween. You can even claim that pumpkins are the face of this festival. The tradition of carving the dainty old Jack-O-Lantern has recently become a much more creative and competitive affair. Several communities in Canada hold pumpkin carving competitions. People get to the pumpkin patches early to get the best ones first!
Stand Out Costumes
There is nothing better than dressing up!ย
Halloween brings out the most creative, obnoxious, supercalifragilistic costumes ever. Children band together to dress as Ghostbusters or Stranger Things characters in the great hope of not being dragged away to the Upside Down. Disney and Pixar characters make a comeback every year, while adults prefer more age-appropriate (adult onesies)โor should we say comfy onesies?ย
Decorating the House
Canadians prefer going over the top for Halloweenโjust as they should! Lawn decorators, mini pumpkin patches, inflatable ghosts, gigantic fake spidersโthere is a lot you can do to decorate your house during Halloween.ย The interiors are often decorated with fall-themed elements like dried leaves, fake plants, and pumpkin-themed decor. Halloween allows you to go haywire on the decorations. You can make several DIY projects, like paper cutouts and banners. You can also purchase Halloween-themed decor from the nearest home improvement store.ย
Trick or Treat
It is an age-old tradition for children to go door-to-door on spooky days to get candy from their neighbours. Even though trick-or-treating is considered a fun practice, its origin can be traced back to the poor going into the rich neighbourhoods to honour the dead of the homeowners and receiving soul cakes.ย The practice of dressing up for Halloween, or โguisingโ as it is called, came only in the 19th century. The โtrickโ part of Halloween is fun! Families or friends often prank each other to scare the other party. Makes sense because it must not be so easy getting the sweets, eh?
Rules to Adhere to When Trick-O-Treating
Even though trick-or-treating is fun, it should be done under adult supervision. Below are some of the important things to remember while trick-or-treating.
-
- Always buy enough candy : If you are handing out candies this year, ensure you buy enough. Buy them in bulk. Consider basic allergens and avoid buying candies that contain nuts or any other substance children can be allergic to.
- Teach your kid to be polite : If you are not supervising trick-or-treating, just give your kid a heads-up about basic etiquette, like saying thank you and not ringing the doorbells of the houses whose porch lights are switched off or are not celebrating Halloween. If someone asks them about their costume, just explain what it is and move along.
- Alternate gifts : As a little surprise, you can keep stickers, pencils or other small items to add to the candies during Halloween. It is also a good idea to have the backs of kids who might not be able to have treats because of allergies.
- Clean pathways : If you decorate big for Halloween, keep your walkways clean. Avoid adding decor materials where kids would be walking (runningโwe all know that!).
Why Do Canadians Celebrate Halloween?
Canadians celebrate Halloween to have fun and remember the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of summer and the beginning of winter. The Celts believed that on the night of October 31st, the ghosts of the dead would come back to earth and cause havoc. To ward off the evil spirits, people would dress up in costumes, carve Jack-o-lanterns, and have bonfires. Today, Halloween is a popular holiday celebrated worldwide with costumes, parties, and trick-or-treating. It is one of the most commercialised holidays in Canada.
There Are Some Rules For Adults As Well!
-
- Pumpkin Carving: Carving pumpkins is a popular Halloween tradition in Canada. Many households carve creative designs into pumpkins and display them by their front doors. You can hold a contest with your friends or family and make it a Halloween ritual.
- Trick-or-Treating: A classic Halloween tradition involves going door-to-door and asking for candy. Most communities have trick-or-treat nights, during which children dress up in costume and enjoy the spooky holiday.
- Horror Movies: Movie nights are a must around Halloween. Put on a scary film marathon party for your family or friends. Get all your favourite Halloween-themed snacks. Maybe sneak in a prank!
- Haunted Houses: Many cities in Canada have haunted houses or trails. Visitors can explore spooky scenes and rooms as they make their way through the haunted house.
- Halloween Parties: Adults in Canada host Halloween parties. Guests dress in costumes and enjoy Halloween-themed treats, drinks, and activities.
- Haunted Walks: Another popular Halloween tradition in Canada is going on a haunted walk. This can include a guided tour of a haunted area or exploring a haunted house.
- Paranormal Investigations: Some cities in Canada offer paranormal investigation tours. Participants can explore haunted places with ghost-hunting equipment and experience the spooky side of Halloween.
The Final Trick (or Treat)
As the moon rises and the spooky season draws to a close, it’s time to pack away the costumes and extinguish the jack-oโ-lanternsโuntil next year! Whether youโre looking for a night of fun and adventure or a chance to show off your creativity and costume-making skills, Halloween 2024 has been one for the books. But don’t let the fun end here!ย After all, thereโs always more magic, mystery, and mayhem just around the corner. Until next time, happy haunting!
You May Also Read :
| Guide of Victoria Day in Canada | Victoria Day in Canada |
| How To Celebrate Mothers Day in Canada | Mothers Day in Canada |
| Celebrate Canada Day | Canada Day |
| Guide To Civic Holiday in Canada | Civic Holiday in Canada |
| History of Good Friday | Good Friday |
| Traditions of Eid Al Adha | Eid Al Adha |
| Know About Shrove Tuesday | Shrove Tuesday |
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)
No, Halloween is not a public holiday in Canada or anywhere else in the world.
Halloween has been celebrated in Canada since the late 1800s.
Yes, children in Canada are trick-or-treating.
Halloween in Canada is celebrated in much the same way as in the United States. Children often dress up in costumes and go trick-or-treating, while some throw costume parties, carve Jack-o'-lanterns and indulge in horror movie marathons to keep up with the spook. Is Halloween a public holiday?
When did Canadians start celebrating Halloween?
Do Canadians go trick-or-treating?
What happens on Halloween in Canada?
