Halloween à la française

Halloween isn't traditionally celebrated in France, but the holiday has steadily gained popularity since its introduction by American tourists and expats in the 1990s. It was as early as 1982 however that the American Dream--a restaurant and bar in Paris--hosted a Halloween-themed party.

The American Dream today

Though staff had to explain the decorations and premise to nearly every customer who walked in, the holiday gained popularity in the following years thanks to American companies' advertising. Pumpkins and spooky characters appeared in Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and Disney ads in France, and French companies like France Télécom soon jumped on the bandwagon.

Today, the French celebrate with store decorations, Halloween-themed carnivals and festivals, and costume parties with friends. Even trick-or-treating has evolved from store-to-store to door-to-door in residential areas, as in the United States.

But for some, Halloween still remains a solemn religious holiday. French Catholics use the following day, All Saints' Day or Toussaint, to honor all saints, known and unknown.  La commémoration des fidèles défunts, or All Souls' Day as it is known in English-speaking countries, follows on November 2 as a day of prayer for the dead, especially relatives or members of the congregation. For both of these holidays, many businesses are closed as French people visit and lay flowers on the resting places of loved ones. Chrysanthemums, a traditional symbol of grief and death, are especially popular.

Live chrysanthemums bloom in a French cemetery

How will you celebrate Halloween this year?

Play a French Halloween scavenger hunt game here!