With its ancient ruins, gory history and fascinating folklore – Europe is an amazing place to be on October 31st. If you want to scare yourself silly, some spooky destinations can be found just a short ferry ride away, so why not celebrate Halloween in Europe by visiting one of these fright-filled cities.
1. Ancient Samhain celebrations in Derry
Contrary to popular belief, Halloween wasn’t invented by American candy companies. In fact, the ghoulish holiday finds its roots much closer to home. Thousands of years ago, ancient Ireland marked the end of the harvest season with the festival of Samhain. On this supposedly supernatural night, the superstitious pagans believed that spirits would cross into the mortal world to cause trouble and strife. Historically, the holiday was wrapped in protective rituals. People played games with apples and nuts to honour their yield, while rural communities carved turnips and potatoes into lanterns to ward off evil spirits.
Today, no one does Halloween quite like Northern Ireland. And nowhere in Northern Ireland does Halloween like Derry. Every year, the city stages a mammoth event honouring the pagan roots of Halloween. Taking place over four days, the Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival has been a mainstay for over 30 years, attracting over 50,000 spooky revellers each October 31st. The noisy, fantastical pageant is the biggest Halloween event in Europe and highlights include the Museum of the Moon, a Monster Fun Fair, a Carnival Parade and a dazzling fireworks display.
2. Horror Meets Art in Amsterdam
Over the last couple of decades, Amsterdam has wholeheartedly embraced Halloween, and the fun-packed city is now one of the best places to party on All Hallows’ Eve. Wander round the misty canals on the night of October 31st and you’ll find throngs of fancy dress events that carry on until the small hours. But if you truly want to party in style this Halloween, look no further than Amsterdam Spook’s unsurpassed offerings. Driven by a passion for the art of SFX, costumes, horror and storytelling, their boundary-pushing parties are legendary, yet their Halloween event is their masterpiece.
The location and subject changes each time, and guests are invited to interpret the year’s theme however they like. Previous installments have included ‘Freak Show’, ‘Mad Science’, and ‘Day of the Dead’ – and the effort people put into their costumes is pretty spectacular. Though be warned – fans can spend a full year crafting their costumes, so you’ll have to go a bit further than cutting a head hole in an old bedsheet to cut the mustard.
3. Haunting History in Paris
Parisians – and indeed most French people – do not celebrate Halloween in the traditional sense. You’ll be hard pressed to find many children dressed up as ghouls and witches trick or treating around the Latin Quarter, but who’s to say that chills and spooks are exclusive only to Halloween?
With more than two thousand years of recorded events under its belt, the City of Lights has seen more than its fair share of scares. Costume or not, head down to The Catacombs in Paris. This 300km labyrinth beneath the city is the final resting place of over 6 million people from across the centuries, and as such, a chilling atmosphere permeates the air. See the tunnels for yourself at Place Denfert-Rochereau, where you’ll be offered a guided tour of this mass tomb.
For something a little lighter, but still Halloween appropriate, check out the world’s only Vampire Museum in Paris. Run by self-proclaimed vampirologist Jacques Sirgent – an English teacher and Bram Stoker translator by day – this curious museum offers an assortment of odd objects and trinkets to marvel over.
Ready to celebrate Halloween in Europe? Book your ferry crossing to one of these spooky destinations today!
