Halloween is NOT celebrated the same way everywhere – even though most students here celebrate it.  

For example, the following countries do not recognize Halloween as a holiday: 

 According to ChatGPT, In the United States and Canada, Halloween is a major holiday celebrated on October 31st. Children dress up in costumes and go door-to-door for trick-or-treating, where they receive candy from neighbors. Many people decorate their homes with spooky decorations like cobwebs, pumpkins, and skeletons. Haunted houses and costume parties are also popular.  In Mexico, the Day of the Dead, or “Dia de los Muertos,” is a significant holiday that takes place from October 31st to November 2nd. It is a time to honor deceased loved ones with ofrendas (altars) filled with marigolds, sugar skulls, candles, and the favorite foods and drinks of the deceased. People also paint their faces as decorative skulls. Halloween has gained popularity in Japan in recent years, primarily among young people. It’s more of a commercial and costume-themed holiday, with costume parties, themed decorations, and pumpkin-inspired treats. In a random survey of 10 Morton East students, 9/10 said that they celebrate Halloween in their country. 

“I do not celebrate Halloween with my family; I usually just go out with friends. In my country we celebrate it by scaring people. The best thing about Halloween is the candy,” senior Edgar Moreno said. 

Edgar and Israel had different ideas about Halloween.

“I do not celebrate Halloween. For my family Halloween is the Devil. In my country, people celebrate by dressing up and going to hunted houses,” senior Israel Angeles said. 

Eric’s family is skeptical of the holiday as well.

“I celebrate Halloween by going out with friends at Oak Park. We usually dress up and go trick or treating. My family, however, thinks Halloween is to celebrate the Devil,” senior Eric Medina said.