[PDF] Halloween Traditions in France and French Halloween Vocabulary - Anciens Et Réunions

Did French people celebrate Halloween?

French people may not celebrate Halloween, but surprising the holiday is one that actually originated with the Celts in Gaul in Old France. See the history of Halloween in France, along with that lesser known holiday, the All Saints Day. (As an Amazon affiliate, we may earn commissions on purchases.

Where did Halloween come from?

That being said, a little dive into French history shows that the origins of Halloween are a lot closer to old-world France than you might expect. Halloween actually isn’t a “new” American tradition, but a very old one. It comes from the Celtic Pagan celebration of Samhain in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and wait for it, France.

Do French say Trick-or-Treat on Halloween?

Don’t say trick-or-treat on Halloween in France The French don’t say “trick-or-treat”, instead they ask “candies or a spell” ( des bonbons ou un sort ). However, don’t expect many costumed children to knock on your front door in France as the trick-or-treat tradition isn’t very strong.

Why is Halloween called 'Halloween' in Québec?

In France, it was introduced by the Americans as “Halloween” and remains a pretty alien concept. But in Québec, the word and the event itself have had much more time to seep into the culture; hence the adoption of the definite article and the creation of expressions like Passer l’Halloween (to go trick-or-treating).