Does Germany traditionally celebrate Halloween? Is this a recent import from the US?

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Bernd

not really a tradition all over germany.
there are regions that celebrated Helloween since couple of hundred years (alemannen) but only regional.
its now more or less common, again regional, but in bigger city's it has become a sort of extra day to party.
sometimes it is also not celebrated exactly on the 31st Oct. because if people need to work next day than it's gonna be the next weekend.
we import a lot of not usefull things from the states, sorry to say that but it's the truth.we could live without Halloween

madonna_toller

It's imported as you said. It get's more popular these days but also because shops are pushing the sales of Deco-items etc. I think every country should stick to their ancient traditions where the meaning is well known.

mcginnis.joshua

No it is not widely celebrated here, it is a recent trend and many people have no idea what "trick or treating" is or why people dress like they are dead.

Maresa

Traditionally, we don't celebrate Halloween, but some clever buisness man imported that idea from the USA and so more and more children are walking around asking for sweets - but not as many as you might think. There are also Halloween parties organized by discos, it's fun but it's not as important in Germany as for example carnival ist ;-) But there are also som German traditions in some parts of the country that are somehow like Halloween. For example in my region it's a tradition that in the night of May 1st young people walk around the village and play some tricks on the neighbours, for example taking away the benches and putting them on the market place. In parts of Northern Germany on or around november 11th children walk around, sing and ask for sweets. And of course in the regions around Colgone carnival is celebrated. But that are more or less regional traditions and not comparable with Halloween.

The baby penguin

we don't celebrate it at all where I live, but October 31st is a holiday in the protestant areas, the Reformationstag, as mentioned above.

@Hamburg: What do you mean we "unfortunately" celebrate the Reformationstag? What's wrong about it? And we don't "celebrate" it, it's just another day off.

Alwin E

Germany, in christian catholic religion, traditionally has "all saints' day", which corresponds to the heathen / celtic "all hallow'een", "the day the fairies fly". It's one of the highest fiests of the catholic church; see the German Wikipedia for that:
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allerheiligen

The next day, Nov 2nd, also is a "quiet day", where you remember your deceased abcestors; see
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allerseelen

Sorry for the links in German; there is no real explanation why they do it (even catholics can tell me no reason for it).

Halloween is kind of new to kids, but many, many more start trickin' an' treatin', and it's just like I feel a bit less sad when they come along. I handed out a lot of treats this year, and I'd be happy if catholic Germans would adopt that as a customs, instead of just keep people mourning these two days. It's quite enough that dancing and indecent behavior (whatever that means) in public places is forbidden these two days. At least the kids should have their fun.

nix

Germans do not really celebrate halloween or at least it is not very popular.

Nekkra

It is getting more popular over here. 10 years ago, there was no sign of Halloween in Germany outside of the US military housing areas. Now, the trend is spreading. It's a slow spread, but in maybe another 10 years Halloween will be really popular. Right now it's mostly parties the occassional haunted house.

The BIGGEST haunted house party in Germany is in Darmstadt every year at the Frankenstein Castle.

ShlomoNYC

It is an import from the US; but of course big business loves a new holiday: gives them a reason to sell stuff. Unfortunately the protestant Germans celebrate "Reformationsday" which is an important holiday to them.

liebekatz2

It is becoming more popular here, unfortunately. Just another reason for the Germans to ****** and complain at how stupid and uncivilized Americans are, and that nothing but garbage comes out of the USA. The kids all enjoy it, of course, but most adults don't. A lot of teenagers here use it as an excuse for vandalism. I'm not a big Halloween fan myself.

Paris Hilton

No but Germans will use any excuse for a crazy party, and they already have lots of similar type hollidays, so I imagine this will catch on in time...

Divine

Germany celebrates "Sankt Martin" instead of. It's on November 11th. Children go from house to house and sing Sankt Martin-Songs. They get candys too.
People put costumes on during Carnival season and have a big party.
Halloween is getting more popular in the big cities now. Some bars have Halloween-Partys.

fliege52000

No not really. Long time ago, nobody didn't care about it, but now everybody crazy about Halloween. Like you said is import from the US...

kebvee

if you mean dressing up in costumes and having a grand old time, try Karneval in February (Fastnacht/Fasching) it's their springtime Mardi Gras!

Fenris Troll Ripper JPA RT ATL Â®

It is a more recent import from the USA.

when I lived there in 1993 i had the cities FIRST Halloween party ever in Weimar Germany that we know of that is. I had nearly 30+ people over and we did party German like but everyone DID get into dressing up into costume and the gals loved carving the pumpkins and we had a blast!!

They have never celebrated it ever again because I moved back to the USA. Only the last few years has it started to become a FAD there and I hope that is kicks off and does well. It is a wonderful Holiday for kids I think if done right!!

Best of luck to them.

Mara

We celebrate Halloween- but only in the shops (decoration). That kids going in costuems from door to door is uncommon.And the adults dressed only up, if they are going to the very few Halloween partys. Halloween its more a commercial thing.
We have similaer traditions, but they have nothing to do with Halloween. So are going in the West part of Germany (in some villages and cities, it is not every there known) the kids in the end of October from door to door with small lamps and singing. For that they get sweets. It is called Maeten- or Martinssingen (but there are also some other names for it).
Also the kids are going around, in the catholic areas, at the 6th january dressed like the three holy kings and bless the houses.
But Halloween is only an import.Not to compare with the german carneval tradition, which is a huge celebration in February.

Baby Girl

I was born in homburg, Germany on Halloween and guess what? My mom doesn't remember anyone dressing up on that day!!!!

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