Halloween is always celebrated on October 31st, the day before All Saints Day (November 1st). The name is an abbreviation of the words “hallowed evening,” which is why you’ll occasionally find it spelled “Hallowe’en.”

What countries celebrate halloween?

Traditional Halloween practices, such as carving pumpkins and trick or treating, began in Ireland , where Halloween is still widely celebrated. However, many of the largest Halloween celebrations currently take place in North America . While traditionally the celebrations have been limited to the West, Halloween has become increasingly popular in parts of Asia and Australia .

What does Halloween stand for?

Halloween began 2,000 years ago as the festival Samhain (pronounced sow-in), which marked the end of summer and acknowledged the dead. On Samhain, it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. The word Halloween is a contraction of the words “Hallowed Evening,” as the day takes place before All Saint’s Day on November 1st.

How did trick or treating start?

There are several English, Irish, and Scottish traditions that mirror trick or treating (the practice of children going door-to-door and asking for sweets by saying “trick or treat”), and the common belief is that each of these traditions was brought to North America by immigrants in the 19th and early 20th centuries. As the traditions blended together, modern trick or treating was born!

What should I pack for a Halloween tour?

First and foremost: if you’re going to be attending a Halloween party, you’ll need a costume! Costumes can range from simple masks or face paint to large-scale homemade creations. Figures from popular culture, characters from beloved movies or books, and topical political jokes or statements are all often worn: it’s up to you!

Halloween Tours & Trips

Do you love dressing up, carving out pumpkins, and all things spooky? Then a Halloween tour is for you! Explore ghost towns in the USA, dance the night away at a Halloween party like no other at a castle in Transylvania, or round off your October adventure with a trip to Mexico for an unforgettable celebration of the dead. If you love Halloween you owe it to yourself to attend the spookiest events set against the most hauntingly beautiful backdrops the world has to offer.

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Best Places to Go for Halloween

Attend a Halloween party at Dracula's Castle
One of the most coveted party spots for Halloween is Dracula’s Castle! Located in Transylvania, Bran Castle is the rumored inspiration for the setting of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. If you’re lucky, you can attend a Halloween party in this hallowed (and possibly haunted!) castle. Several companies, such as G Adventures, host tours that culminate in an unforgettable Halloween bash at Dracula’s Castle.
Visit spooky towns in the United States
There are several towns across the United States that seem to celebrate Halloween year-round! Visit a real-life ghost town in Montana, explore the Stanley Hotel from Stephen King’s The Shining, or take a history lesson from the site of the Salem Witch Trials. There are also a number of towns whose culture and history make them perfect Halloween destinations; the Spanish moss covering the trees in Savannah, the creepy underground tunnels in Seattle, the Halloween celebrations in Sleepy Hollow - the possibilities are endless!
Head to Mexico for Day of the Dead
While one may imagine a holiday dedicated to the dead to be dreary, on the contrary, Day of the Dead is an incredibly joyful and colorful festival celebrated all over the world. The festivities in Mexico are filled with dancing, carnivals, incredible costumes, parades, traditional food, beautiful marigold flower displays, iconic altars, and cemetery celebrations at the gravesites of loved ones.

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Facts about Halloween

When is Halloween?
Halloween is always celebrated on October 31st, the day before All Saints Day (November 1st). The name is an abbreviation of the words “hallowed evening,” which is why you’ll occasionally find it spelled “Hallowe’en.”
What countries celebrate halloween?
Traditional Halloween practices, such as carving pumpkins and trick or treating, began in Ireland, where Halloween is still widely celebrated. However, many of the largest Halloween celebrations currently take place in North America. While traditionally the celebrations have been limited to the West, Halloween has become increasingly popular in parts of Asia and Australia.
What does Halloween stand for?
Halloween began 2,000 years ago as the festival Samhain (pronounced sow-in), which marked the end of summer and acknowledged the dead. On Samhain, it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. The word Halloween is a contraction of the words “Hallowed Evening,” as the day takes place before All Saint’s Day on November 1st.
How did trick or treating start?
There are several English, Irish, and Scottish traditions that mirror trick or treating (the practice of children going door-to-door and asking for sweets by saying “trick or treat”), and the common belief is that each of these traditions was brought to North America by immigrants in the 19th and early 20th centuries. As the traditions blended together, modern trick or treating was born!
What should I pack for a Halloween tour?
First and foremost: if you’re going to be attending a Halloween party, you’ll need a costume! Costumes can range from simple masks or face paint to large-scale homemade creations. Figures from popular culture, characters from beloved movies or books, and topical political jokes or statements are all often worn: it’s up to you!

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How to Get to Dracula's Castle

By plane
International flights are available to Bucharest from European cities such as London, Paris, and Rome, as well as more distant destinations like New York. Flying to Dracula’s Castle means taking a flight to Bucharest and then travelling the remaining distance (roughly 180 kilometres) via other transportation, such as the train route.
By train
The only way to access Dracula’s Castle (Bran Castle) by train is via a route which begins in Bucharest Nord. The Brasov train will take you to the castle in about three and a half hours, for approximately 10 euros. Trains run hourly, and you’ll have to factor in any other transportation (to Bucharest Nord) before making the decision to travel to Dracula’s Castle by train.
By bus
Board a train in Bucharest at Gara de Nord station that departs to Brasov. In Brasov, go inside the train station and ask to go to Bran Castle by bus. As the routes sometimes change, it’s best to ask at the info desk upon arrival. But generally bus terminal No. 2 Brasov provides regular rides between Brasov and Bran - Moeciu and return trips. The entire journey takes several hours (approximately 3.5).
By car
Renting a car is the optimal choice for getting yourself to Bran. From Bucharest, head north on DN1/E60, pass by Ploiesti, continue to follow DN1/E60, after Azuga turn left on DN73A, at Rasnov turn left onto DN73/E574, drive 10KMs and Bran Castle will be on the left. If you’re driving to Bran Castle from Brasov, head northwest to Rasnov on DN73/E574, continue straight to Bran, castle will be on the left.
By taxi
A ride to Bran Castle from Bucharest, takes about 2.5hrs drive. At Otopeni-Bucharest Airport there is a taxi station right in front of the international arrivals. This trip cost can vary so check beforhand.
Accommodation
Travellers have said that there isn't much to do in Bran so, despite the longer commute, it's suggested that you stay in and around Brasov. Bran is a village with less than 6,000 people while Brasov is a city with over 200,000 residents. There are many guest houses to choose from along the way but as long as you stay near the main train station in Brasov.

The History of Halloween

Descriptions of events very similar to modern celebrations of Halloween can be found in texts that describe ancient Celtic festivals, early Roman Catholic holidays, and even medieval times.

In ancient times (think pre-Christian), the Celtic festival of Samhain was celebrated on the night of October 31st. The Celts believed that the dead used the night of Samhain to return to Earth. To celebrate, people would hold large gatherings at bonfires and pay homage (sometimes by providing sacrifices) to honor their deceased loved ones. In some villages, residents would dress in animal skins and wear masks in order to go unnoticed by potentially malevolent spirits. They would also lay out banquets with food and drinks to appease these ill-intentioned ghosts.

By the time the ninth century came around, Christianity was spreading through the Celtic lands and old traditions merged with newer ones. Around 1000 A.D. the church designated November 2nd as All Souls’ Day, a time to honor the deceased. These celebrations retained some of their pagan Celtic roots with their use of bonfires and masks. Poorer villages would visit the homes of the wealthy to receive pastries referred to as “soul cakes” in exchange for the promise that they would pray for the wealthy family’s dead relatives. In Scotland and Ireland, children would dress up in costume and entertain neighboring households with a song or trick in exchange for food or money. This practice is probably the closest to modern-day celebrations of Halloween.

Also if you’ve ever been told to be wary of black cats, you can give credit to medieval celebrations of Halloween. In the Middle Ages, everyone and their mom seemed to have witch fever. They feared witches so strongly that they began to believe that these magical ladies were capable of transforming into cats to avoid detection. Funnily enough, this superstition has managed to stand the test of time and to this day people are warned not to allow black cats to cross their paths.

Don't let this quaint town fool you! Sleepy Hollow, NY is a must-visit for Halloween in the USA.

Did you know?

The word 'witch' comes from the Old English word wicce or wicca: (meaning wise woman)
Adoption of black cats around Halloween is banned in many places: (out of fear they will be sacrificed)
Samhainophobia: (meaning the fear of Halloween)
Halloween is the second most commercial holiday in America: (second to Christmas)