Halloween Traditions From Around the World
Cruise Circle
In this week's blog, we’re taking a look at how Halloween is celebrated around the world, from Count Dracula to ancient Celtic festivals.
1. Romania - Dracula lore & pumpkins galore
Home to legendary Dracula, Romania is the perfect candidate for Halloween celebrations. The most notable of which is a Vampire Ball at Bran Castle (commonly referred to as Dracula’s Castle), where attendees can step into Dracula lore, dress in elaborate costumes, and dance in medieval halls under candlelight.
Bucharest (where several Danube River cruises begin) also get into the spirit of things with the 3-day West Side Hallo Fest, featuring some 20,000 pumpkins, a haunted bus, 30,000 sqm of themed décor, acrobats from the Bucharest Metropolitan Circus, a cosplay parade & more.
You’ll find a selection of river cruises available that visit Bucharest, some of which conveniently coincide with Halloween.
2. New Orleans - Creepy French Quarter & frightening floats
No stranger to a fun-filled celebration (Mardi Gras is the city’s most famous), New Orleans pulls out all the stops for spooky season. A dazzling display of parades, haunted tours and impressive costumes draw thousands to the French Quarter – the perfect backdrop for frightening festivities. Often referred to as the most ‘haunted city in America’, the 18th-century mansions, above-ground graves and complex Voodoo traditions all add to New Orleans’ unique flair for Halloween.
Celebrations are city-wide, with the Krewe of Boo Parade taking centre stage, featuring over-the-top floats and costumed riders who throw candy and trinkets into the audience as they pass by. The French Quarter’s Voodoo shops also offer visitors an opportunity to learn more about the history behind the centuries-old spiritual practices.
New Orleans is a regular on many Caribbean itineraries year-round.
3. Edinburgh - Celtic traditions & ghost tours
Another city with a spooky reputation, the Scottish capital has a few tricks (and treats) up its sleeve when it comes to Halloween. All Hallows Eve in Edinburgh is entwined with the ancient Celtic festival Samhuinn, which marks the turning of seasons as winter draws in. Deeply rooted in Celtic folklore, the night explores the connection between the living and the dead, when legend says the boundary between the physical and spirit worlds is at its thinnest. Marked with the Samhuinn Fire Festival, attendees can expect fire-dancing, acrobatics, drumming & much more.
Suppose you’re not in town for Halloween itself. In that case, there’s still plenty of ghost tours that run year-round, like the Vaults Tour, led by a costumed guide who takes you beneath the streets of Edinburgh’s Old Town, telling you about murders, paranormal stories and the persecution of witches.
4. Upstate New York (Sleepy Hollow) - Haunted hayrides and the Headless Horseman
Just 20 miles north of New York City lies Sleepy Hollow. This Westchester County village is a renowned Halloween destination, famous for the classic American short story ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ by Washington Irving, which centres on Ichabod Crane and a ghostly Headless Horseman – the latter of which often makes several appearances throughout the festivities. Fans of the short (and subsequent gothic horror film) can visit Sleepy Hollow’s cemetery for evening lantern tours and explore the Headless Horseman Bridge site. Other highlights include a Haunted Hayride and The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, showcasing over 7,000 hand-carved pumpkins set against 18th-century manor buildings.
As a bonus, October is the prime ‘fall’ season and perfect for leaf-peepers. See New York reinvent itself with rich autumn colours, awash with vibrant reds and oranges that transform the landscape.
