Halloween has never been a traditionally significant holiday in Greece.
Nonetheless, it has been gaining significant traction and popularity in recent years. This shift can be attributed to several factors.
Firstly, globalization in the age of social media is a fundamental factor. People, and particularly younger generations, come in direct contact with what is going on in places like the U.S., where Halloween is a significant celebration with millions of people observing its traditions.
With increased access to global social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat as well as almost universal access to the internet, Greece’s society has become more exposed to international customs and celebrations.
This significant exposure has particularly influenced Millenials and Gen Zs, who are more open to adopting new and foreign traditions that were relatively unknown in previous decades.
This growing appeal of Halloween in Greece lies in its fun and festive nature, which sounds and looks very appealing to many Greeks, who know very well how to celebrate.
Growing numbers of expats and Greeks of the diaspora
Another important factor that turns Halloween into a Greek celebration as well is cultural exchanges and the influence of tourism, as Greece attracts more and more people, particularly from the U.S.
As a result, Halloween is rapidly transforming from a minor observance of a few into a vibrant celebration across various cities in Greece.
Tourism plays a crucial role in spreading Halloween traditions like costume-wearing and trick-or-treating across Greece.
Major cities like Athens and Thessaloniki, along with major islands like Corfu, Rhodes, Mykonos and Santorini attract a large number of tourists and expatriates even in late October.
Because of this new reality, these places have seen an increase in Halloween-themed events, as local businesses and nightclubs try to attract more clients.
These events are primarily focused on expats and tourists familiar with Halloween traditions, such as costume parties and themed decorations focused around pumpkins and spooky ornaments. The growing presence of expats who chose Greece as their new home has introduced Greece and its people to the holiday’s impressive customs.
This is steadily sparking curiosity among locals, particularly among the younger ages.
In urban areas, Halloween has become an excuse for social gatherings and parties as Greeks are known for their love of such events.
The capital city of Athens hosts a variety of Halloween events that last for days. From themed bar nights to cultural events organized by associations and groups, we see a huge boost in a number of events that blend local traditions with American customs.
These celebrations often include costume contests, live music, and spooky decorations that create a hard-to-resist atmosphere.
Halloween as a new Apokries-themed event in Greece
Another major reason why Halloween is gaining such popularity in Greece is that it resembles one of Greece’s most popular celebrations: The Carnival, also known in Greece as ”Apokries”.
The core of the Halloween celebrations shares striking similarities with Greece’s Apokries celebrations.
Known as the “Greek Halloween,” Apokries, which takes place around February or March each year, involves dressing up in costumes and celebrating with abundant consumption of alcohol and food.
This existing tradition makes it easier for Greeks to embrace Halloween’s costume-centric festivities as it is nothing foreign to them.
Therefore, one could easily say that the rising popularity of Halloween in Greece can be attributed to the fact that it is seen by many as a ”mini Carnival season” at the heart of Autumn.
Along with cultural exchange through globalization, the influence of tourism and growing expatriate communities across Greece, Halloween is expected to continue gaining momentum and popularity in a country where the majority of its population only a few decades ago, didn’t even know its existence.
