Halloween in France vs. the US: A Spooky Cultural Clash
From France to the US: What I Learned About the Cultural Differences in Halloween Celebrations Left Me Stunned.
Being French, Halloween has always felt like a bit of an oddball in our calendar of celebrations.
Not that all my fellow Frenchmen would agree, of course!
When Halloween landed in France, riding a wave of commercial hype in the late 1990s, I was already a young adult.
So, during my childhood, I wasn’t exactly steeped in pumpkin carving or dressing up as a superhero for candy.
In fact, I spent a good chunk of my childhood in West Germany—another Halloween-free zone.
Not a single spooky witch or skeleton in sight!
Like most people in France, I noticed the arrival of Halloween from around 1997, peaking by 2002-2003.
Living in Alsace at the time, I saw that Halloween had found a nice little niche.
No surprise, really, since Alsace loves its traditions—especially those involving witches and magical creatures.
Even though Halloween’s popularity dipped after 2003, it’s never truly vanished.
If anything, it’s become a thrill-seeker’s delight, with teens and young adults flocking to scary parties.
And since 2020, I’d say Halloween is making a comeback, particularly with young children.
I saw this firsthand during an autumn trip to Bonnieux in Provence.
On October 31st last year, as we drove through Ménerbes at dusk in a Citroën 2CV (classic, right?), I spotted groups of kids and parents in spooky costumes wandering the village streets.
I accidentally filmed a few of them during our drive.
Nothing very nasty here in Ménerbes, though!
When I realised something was different between the US and France!
But it was a conversation with one of my French students, Stan—an American from Atlanta—just last week that really got me thinking.
Naively, I assumed Halloween was celebrated the same way in France as in the US.
Well, what Stan told me left me speechless.
Here’s what he said:
He’s coming to France on business but insisted on flying back by October 30th—just in time to celebrate Halloween with his 8-year-old kids.
He wouldn't miss it for the world because Halloween is the big event for young children.
His entire neighbourhood gets involved, with kids visiting house after house, and collecting candy.
Kids love dressing up: Marvel superheroes, DC Comics characters, witches, ghosts, you name it.
If a teenager (or young adult) wears a scary costume, they make sure to keep their distance from the little ones to avoid frightening them.
It’s a family event, mainly for young children. Once they hit 10 or 11, they either stop or take on the role of handing out candy to the younger kids.
Overall, it’s a friendly, community-building occasion, bringing neighbours together.
I was floored!
This version of Halloween couldn’t be further from what we experienced in France.
Curious to dig deeper, I reached out to another of my French students, Ellen, from upstate New York.
Maybe Halloween was different in her neck of the woods.
But nope—Ellen confirmed everything Stan had said.
Point for point.
And that’s when it hit me: this cultural gap between American and French Halloween is too interesting not to explore further.
So here we are! Let’s dive into the subject of comparing Halloween in the US vs. France.
1. The Roots of Halloween in the US vs. France
IN THE US, Halloween is more than just a holiday; it’s woven into the culture.
It all started in the mid-19th century when Irish immigrants brought their traditions over, including Halloween.
The country quickly embraced it, and it became a family favourite.
Trick-or-treating, spooky costumes, pumpkin carving—it’s all part of the fun.
And, over the years, it’s only grown bigger.
IN FRANCE, however, things are different.
Halloween didn’t arrive until the late 1990s, and, to be honest, it felt more like a marketing stunt.
Brands saw an opportunity to fill the gap between summer holidays and Christmas, and suddenly, Halloween was everywhere.
But it didn’t have the same roots. It wasn’t passed down through generations like in the US.
So, while it popped up in shops and schools, it never really dug deep into French traditions.
2. How Halloween is Celebrated in the US vs. France
IN AMERICA, Halloween is all about fun and family.
You’ve got kids dressed up as superheroes, ghosts, witches, cats—you name it—running from house to house for candy.
Entire neighbourhoods get into the spirit. Houses are decked out with spooky decorations, and people spend weeks planning their costumes.
It’s a community affair.
IN FRANCE, Halloween has a different vibe.
It’s mostly celebrated by teenagers and young adults who love a good scare.
There are costume parties and spooky events, but you won’t see many trick-or-treaters knocking on doors.
If kids do dress up, it’s often for school events or organised activities.
And the whole thing feels a bit... smaller.
Less of a big, neighbourhood event and more of an excuse for a creepy night out.
3. The Atmosphere: Creativity vs. Horror
One of the big differences between Halloween in the US and France is the costumes.
IN AMERICA, the goal is to be original and creative.
People go all out—whether it’s dressing up as an astronaut, a Disney princess, or a giant taco!
It’s not all about being scary.
It’s about having fun and standing out.
IN FRANCE, on the other hand, Halloween is all about the fright factor.
Most people stick to the classics: vampires, ghosts, witches, and a lot of fake blood.
There’s this unspoken rule that Halloween costumes should be terrifying.
As a result, the whole atmosphere is darker, less playful.
I’ve seen more killer clowns here than anywhere else!
4. The Community Spirit: The US vs. France
Halloween IN THE US is a community event.
Kids go door-to-door for candy, neighbours chat, and there’s a real sense of togetherness.
It’s fun, it’s social, and it’s for all ages.
Parents take part too, decorating their houses and even dressing up themselves.
It’s a bit like a big block party that everyone joins in on.
IN FRANCE, that sense of community doesn’t really exist around Halloween.
Sure, there are parties, and some shops might put up decorations, but you won’t find the same enthusiasm.
Trick-or-treating isn’t common, and most people don’t decorate their homes.
It feels more like something you do with a close group of friends—if you do it at all.
5. The Decline of Halloween in France
Halloween had its moment in France, peaking between 1997 and 2003.
But after that, it started to fade. Why?
Well, the war in Iraq didn’t help.
France refused to join the US, and suddenly, anything American wasn’t so cool.
Halloween, with its obvious American roots, got caught in the backlash.
Plus, France already has La Toussaint—a time to honour the dead in a more solemn way.
(By the way I have published a YouTube video on the matter, watch it here:)
For many French people, that’s a tradition they prefer over spooky costumes and candy.
That said, Halloween hasn’t disappeared completely.
It’s still around, especially with teenagers and young adults.
And in recent years, I’ve noticed it making a bit of a comeback with young kids.
Maybe social media has something to do with it.
Or maybe it’s just too fun to resist!
Conclusion: Two Halloweens, Two Worlds
Halloween in the US is a huge, family-friendly, creative celebration.
It’s a day where communities come together, and everyone—kids and adults alike—gets to have fun.
In France, it’s darker, more about horror, and definitely not as widespread.
And there you have it—this was my little sociological study on Halloween in France compared to the United States.
It’s the result of my own research and a few interviews on the subject, but perhaps you, dear reader, have a different take?
Or maybe something interesting to add that could improve this study?
If so, feel free to leave a comment. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
It's so interesting to read about differences in culture. Merci for this interesting and educational post, Pierre! I leave work early on Halloween to make sure I'm home in time to hand out candy and see all the kids!
In the early 1990s, we had a series of British Au Pairs and they were so surprised by the importance of Halloween in the US. Like France, England wasn’t into this holiday but it has taken hold there as well with the first surge of interest in the late 1990s.