Increasing number of Finnish children celebrate American Halloween amid local concerns
In recent years, an increasing number of children in Finland have shown an interest in celebrating American Halloween. The festivities typically involve children dressing in costumes and going door-to-door for treats during “trick or treat” rounds. However, some locals are not fond of this spooky-themed celebration, which falls around All Saints’ Day, and “trick” pranks are not always welcomed positively.
There is no fixed date for Halloween in the Finnish calendar. Traditionally, it has been celebrated on various occasions, including All Saints’ Day, the weekend before it, or the last day of October, which is an officially recognized date in the U.S. In Muurame, Central Finland, residents have expressed frustration over the extended trick-or-treating period, sometimes lasting several days around late October and early November. As a response to community feedback, local authorities have set guidelines suggesting that trick-or-treating is appropriate on the upcoming Saturday.
Such guidelines around Halloween celebrations are inconsistent across different municipalities and years. For instance, this season, Joensuu recommends celebrating Halloween on November 1, despite last year’s advice to celebrate on the Saturday before All Saints’ Day, mirroring Muurame’s current guidance.
In Muurame, a survey conducted by a trainee received over 600 responses; residents made it clear they do not want trick-or-treaters at their doors on All Saints’ Day. The town’s cultural officer, Johanna Pitkälä, noted the divided opinions: some consider Halloween a fun celebration, while others are completely opposed. Many respondents suggested instead celebrating traditional Finnish harvest festivals, with some mentioning Palm Sunday as the appropriate time for such festivities in Finland.