How I Celebrate Halloween in the United States

Halloween, like in many regions around the world, is passionately celebrated in the US. The history of Halloween in the US goes back to the mid-1800s, when Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and British immigrants brought Celtic traditions to North America. Halloween spread throughout the United States and Canada, eventually becoming one of the most widely celebrated holidays. Combining both old and new traditions, the American Halloween experience is guaranteed to be fun for everyone, both on the night of Halloween and the weeks prior.

Pumpkin patches

During the weeks approaching Halloween, many people will take a trip out to pumpkin farms in the countryside, looking for the perfect pumpkin to carve. Although farms nowadays will likely have piles of pumpkins to choose from, there are still many farms where you can walk up and down rows of pumpkins and choose one right from the ground. Farms will often compete for customers, and will sell other goods and experiences, which has led to pumpkin picking becoming a touristy experience, especially for families. There are many fun things to do, whether that’s racing your siblings in a corn maze, taking a hayride through a pumpkin patch, (a tractor that pulls a wagon full of hay that you sit on), or stopping inside a shop to enjoy some apple cider or apple cinnamon donuts.

Jack-O-Lanterns

Once back from the pumpkin patch, it’s time to carve a Jack-O-Lantern! Cut the top off, scoop out the seeds – I always made my dad do this because I was grossed out – then carve out a picture. Most people carve out faces, which is traditional, though some people like to get creative. The pumpkins are then placed outside the home, most often on the porch, with candles placed inside of them to make the faces glow. The seeds from the pumpkin are often roasted for a snack. 

Halloween Night

Perhaps the most well-known Halloween tradition, trick-or-treating, takes place on Halloween night. Kids and teens will dress up in costumes, walk door-to-door, and say “trick or treat!” The residents of the house or apartment will then give the kids a piece of candy, or if they’re really nice, a full candy bar, though that’s normally only in the rich neighborhoods. Kids who are die-hard trick-or-treaters will keep track of which houses give the best candies and which houses to avoid because they only give out boring trinkets. If they’re a perfectionist like me, they may even create a map of the most efficient route around the neighborhood. Once night falls, the kids return and sort through candies. It is common to trade with friends or siblings; giving the undesired candies to the parents. 

While kids are out trick or treating, adults take turns handing out candy. The others will likely sit in front of the TV watching horror movies or American football, or they may sit around a bonfire. If they’re really fancy, they might sit around a bonfire while watching American football from a TV in the garage (or listening to it on the radio). Teens will often host costume parties and go to haunted houses. Nothing says Halloween like being peer pressured into going to a haunted house even though you’re scared! Others may choose a quieter night in, opting to watch classic Halloween movies like Hocus Pocus or Beetlejuice.

Regardless of who you are, there are many ways to have fun on Halloween, even if it’s just dressing up and chilling with your friends. Since its introduction to the US in the mid 1800s, Halloween has expanded to become one of the largest holidays in the US, celebrated by all people, regardless of region, religion, or ethnic background.