Even if Halloween is not a tradition in Finland, and the kids don’t go door to door asking for goodies, it has grown increasingly popular over the past two decades, blending local autumn traditions with international influences, and it is also an excuse for young people to throw a party and hang out with friends. While it’s not a traditional Finnish holiday, many families now celebrate with costumes, pumpkin carving, and themed parties, and schools often organize small festivities. In cities like Helsinki (don’t miss the Helsinki Halloween Run!) and Tampere, bars and amusement parks host Halloween events that mix spooky fun with Nordic style and restraint. Anyway, there is a particular time when the youngest members of Finnish households search the streets for candy: on Palm Sunday, kids dress as witches, take around decorated birch branches and use their undeniable charm to get sweets. What is actually celebrated at Halloween time is ‘All Saints Day’ on the first Saturday after the 30th of October: families go to the cemetery to visit and honor relatives by lighting candles which can make the view of the entire cemetery a spectacular and solemn sight. During the days before All Saints Day, the shops in Finland are full of candles, displayed on special shelves.
