Trick or Treat?

Halloween is a Western holiday growing more popular around the world, and it is even growing traction in Hong Kong. Halloween is often referred to as All Hallow’s Eve or All Saints’ Eve. The annual celebration was once used to remember dead loved ones, including Catholic saints. Today, the focus of the holiday is very different.

There are quite a few ways you can spend your Halloween. Even if you are in Hong Kong, there is no reason you cannot celebrate all the good things that the Western celebration has to offer.

The History of Halloween

Halloween as we know it today was influenced by a Celtic harvest celebration, and researchers suspect that its roots are pagan. The Celtic holiday, Samhain, was once the mark that harvest season was ending, and that winter would soon begin. The Celts also believed that the transition from one season to the next also provided a bridge to the land of the dead.

The Celts lived in modern day United Kingdom, Ireland and France. They would celebrate the birth of the new year each November 1st.  They believed that on October 31st they might catch a glimpse of the land of the dead when ghosts returned to earth. In fact, some ghosts were said to have damaged crops.

While once a somber and serious holiday, Halloween is much more merry and exciting than it once was.

Halloween Traditions

In the United States and many other countries, trick-or-treating is the norm. It is often called ‘guising,’ and it involves dressing up in a costume and going door-to-door to collect candy. While this is primarily an event for children, adults may attend costume parties, carve jack-o-lanterns into pumpkins and watch horror movies.

Celts used to create large bonfires and gather around them to make sacrifices in the hopes that they would continue having a fruitful year. Some Celts even dressed up in costumes made out of animal hides.

Some religions have their own Halloween festivities, and religious observance may include attending a church serve, lighting candles in honor of deceased loved ones and sometimes even avoiding meat. In fact, the word ‘Halloween’ itself is Christian in origin and dates back to about 1745.

Trick-or-treating is not quite as popular in Hong Kong as it is in other parts of the world, but locals still celebrate in their own ways. The reasoning for this could be that so many Hong Kong residents live in high-rise apartments, not homes that are easy to access. It is still available in many of the gated communities.

Hong Kong Disneyland offers an authentic Halloween celebration that many locals bring their children to. This is the best place in the region to experience a real Western experience. This celebration typically begins at the end of September and ends on Halloween. In the past, Ocean Park has been home to Asia’s largest Halloween event. Halloween festivities include hundreds of people in costume, street entertainment and many haunted houses to choose from.

The Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui also hosts a Halloween event. You will see plenty of ghosts, scary costumes and delicious food. This is another place to experience a real Western Halloween. It offers plenty of trick-or-treating opportunities for families.

If you are focused on having an adult experience this Halloween, Lan Kwai Fong is your best bet. There are plenty of Halloween parties here at local bars and pubs. You can show off your new costume and grab some drinks with friends before enjoying other festivities.

The Hungry Ghost Festival, also known as Yu Lan Jie, is a Buddhist and Taoist festival similar to the Halloween celebration. It is typically held in the seventh month of the year during the 15th night. On this day, ghosts and restless spirits are thought to roam the earth. This is a common time to pay homage to the visiting dead. It is common to offer food, burn incense and burn different types of paper.

As you can see, there is no need to be come to the United States of America for a genuine Halloween experience. You can do it right here in Hong Kong!

Halloween Treats

Instead of sending out tricks this year, why not opt to send a delicious gift hamper full of treats? Your loved ones will enjoy receiving these yummy food items, and they will know that you were thinking of them on this special day. Send one of these wonderful gifts to somebody you care about:

Pumpkin Party Hamper is also a great choice for friends and family. It is festive and a great choice for parties and get-togethers. This gift hamper includes a various of snacks like 1880 Dark Chocolate Almond Bar, English Waitrose Continental Plain Chocolate Bar and Tangerine Wheat Beer.

Gift Hampers Hong Kong offers free delivery to metropolitan areas in addition to a complimentary card. In many cases, we can even offer same-day delivery for free. Our high-quality gift hampers are perfect for sending to loved ones, sharing with friends or even simply enjoying on your own.

While Halloween does not necessarily have many traditions in Hong Kong, it is still quite easy to create your own fun this holiday. Hong Kong has certainly embraced the spooky celebration, and you can still find many fun ways to celebrate with friends and family members.

You can contact us on (852) 2730 0839 so that our team will be able to assist you. Alternatively, you can send a email to [email protected].