Halloween and Greek Traditions: More Similar Than You Think!

Every year, at the end of October, people in many countries celebrate Halloween, a night filled with costumes, carved pumpkins, spooky decorations, and a touch of mystery. While Halloween isn’t traditionally celebrated in Greece, you might be surprised to learn that Greek culture has its own way of mixing fun, fear, and festivity!

Let’s take a look at what Halloween means, how it compares to Greek customs, and how you can use this season to learn more Greek vocabulary and culture.

What is Halloween?

Halloween has its roots in ancient Celtic festivals, especially Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter, a time when people believed that the boundary between the living and the dead became thin. Over time, it blended with Christian traditions like All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, creating the celebration we know today.

Today, Halloween is all about creativity and community: dressing up, decorating homes, sharing sweets, and enjoying scary stories or movies.

The Greek “Halloween”: Απόκριες

Although Greece doesn’t celebrate Halloween, it has a wonderful and lively festival called Απόκριες, which usually takes place in February or March, before Lent.

The word Απόκριες comes from the phrase «από κρέας» (away from meat), marking the beginning of fasting. But before fasting starts, Greeks celebrate with costumes, parades, parties, and lots of laughter, sounds familiar, right?

During Απόκριες, people of all ages dress up as anything they like from funny to spooky characters. Children knock on doors singing “Πήραμε τη σκούπα μας και πάμε για σκούπισμα” (We’ve got our broom and we’re off to sweep), a playful rhyme that resembles “Trick or Treat” in spirit!

So, while Halloween focuses on ghosts and monsters, Απόκριες is about joy, imagination, and community yet both share the excitement of costumes and transformation.

Another Greek Custom: Ψυχοσάββατα

In the Greek Orthodox tradition, there are special days known as Ψυχοσάββατα (Soul Saturdays), dedicated to remembering the dead. Families visit cemeteries, light candles, and offer κόλλυβα (a sweet mixture of boiled wheat, nuts, and pomegranate).

This custom reminds us of the more spiritual side of Halloween honouring the dead and reflecting on life and memory.

Even though Halloween isn’t part of traditional Greek culture, it’s easy to find connections between this international celebration and Greek customs like Απόκριες and Ψυχοσάββατα. Both remind us that behind the masks, the laughter, and even the spooky stories, there’s a shared human desire to celebrate life, face our fears, and remember those who came before us.

So whether you’re carving a κολοκύθα or putting on your στολή for Απόκριες, remember that cultures across the world share more in common than we might think, especially when it comes to celebrating together!