Your ultimate Halloween guide 2025

When is Halloween 2025? On Friday, October 31, 2025 – perfect for a long weekend full of style, fun, and a little bit of goosebumps! Dive into the origins, customs, symbols, and creative ideas surrounding Halloween.

Origin and history

Halloween has its roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain , which was celebrated over 2000 years ago. The Celts believed that on the night of October 31st to November 1st, the boundary between the worlds became permeable and the souls of the deceased returned to Earth.

With the Christianization of Europe, the festival became "All Hallows' Eve" —the evening before All Saints' Day—from which the word Halloween eventually developed. In the USA, the festival took its modern form from the 19th century onwards through Irish immigrants: pumpkins, costumes, candy, and lots of creativity.

Halloween 2025 in Europe

In 2025, Halloween falls on Friday, October 31st . Large parties, parades, and street festivals are expected in many European cities – especially Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, London, and Paris . Halloween is no longer a purely American holiday, but an international mix of myth, fashion, and modern pop culture .

Symbols of Halloween

The most well-known symbol is the pumpkin . Originally, the Irish hollowed out turnips to ward off evil spirits. In the USA, this evolved into the famous Jack-o'-lantern – the grinning pumpkin with a candle inside.

The apple also plays a role: In the traditional “apple bobbing”, children try to fish apples out of a pool of water with their mouths – a custom that still provides fun today.

How is Halloween celebrated?

• Houses are decorated with pumpkins, cobwebs, and lights .
• Costume parties and zombie parades create a lively atmosphere.
• Children dressed in costumes walk through the streets shouting "Trick or treat!"
• Adults enjoy horror movie nights, themed parties, or autumn dishes.

For children, Halloween is a real adventure – a mix of fantasy, neighborhood and thrills .

👶 What do children do on Halloween?

For children, Halloween is an adventure! Dressed up as little witches, vampires, or ghosts, they go through the neighborhood collecting candy. Those who don't give out candy risk a harmless little "punishment." This tradition promotes community spirit – with plenty of fun!

Popular Halloween rituals

• Carving pumpkin faces (jack-o'-lanterns)
• Telling scary stories
• Visit haunted houses
• Costume contests
• Making rock candy apples
• Horror movie nights

Colors & Meaning

The classic Halloween colors are:

• 🧡 Orange – for harvest, warmth and autumn
• 🖤 ​​Black – for night, mystery and the unknown
• 💜 Violet – for magic, mysticism and fantasy

This combination instantly gives any decoration the perfect Halloween flair.

Typical Halloween treats

• Pumpkin tarts & muffins
• rock apples
• Caramel popcorn
• Spooky cookies with a spiderweb pattern
• Hot drinks such as cider or pumpkin spice latte

In Germany, the saying at the doors is: "Trick or treat!" – a custom that is fun and creates community.

Costume trends 2025

• Wednesday Addams – the gothic classic
• AI & Robot Looks – Inspired by Artificial Intelligence
• Vampire Brides & Gentlemen of Darkness
• Retro horror characters (Freddy, Jason, Michael Myers)
• Minimalist black and white looks with artistic makeup

Tip: Choose a costume that is not only fashionable but also suits your personal style – then Halloween will be a success.