Voices of Victoria: Victorians have their say on Halloween

Spook-tacular fun or silly American tradition? Victorians have shared their thoughts on Halloween, ahead of the scariest day of the year.

The main streets of Port Melbourne will come alive with hundreds of adorable pups dressed up in scary, whacky and colourful outfits at the 2022 Melbourne Howl-O-Ween Paw Parade on Sunday October 30, 2022. Dressed up in Halloween outfits are brothers Tom 7 and Cal 4, James 5, the ghost with Ted the dog in Howl-O-Ween costumes. Picture: David Caird

Halloween is becoming more popular in Victoria, with no shortage of spook-tacular events planned around the state to mark the scary holiday.

Halloween is celebrated annually on October 31 and although many people believe the spooky holiday is an American tradition, Halloween actually originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.

Trick-or-treating came from the belief that supernatural beings roamed the earth around October.

In this week’s Voices of Victoria poll, we asked people if they would be celebrating the spine-chilling day.

Susan Donald, Ringwood and Leanda Kneebone, Chirnside Park

Susan Donald, Ringwood (left), and Leanda Kneebone, Chirnside Park, (right) share their Halloween plans.

Susan Donald and Leanda Kneebone appeared to already be in their finest Halloween costumes, but were out and about for a workplace bonding activity.

“I am a reluctant participant in Halloween I will admit,” Ms Donald said.

“Since I’ve had kids I’m definitely more into it, especially when they all dress up. It’s just nice to see them having fun.”

Ms Kneebone agreed.

“We do celebrate it, my kids love it,” she said.

“They went trick or treating once and ever since then they can’t wait for Halloween to roll around.”

Duy Huynh, Yarraville

Duy Huynh talks about the Halloween culture.

“Halloween to me is all about confronting your fears,” Duy Huynh said.

“I’ve always thought of Halloween as a time to face our demons – metaphorically as well as literally – to take our fears, cast them aside and consider what would be possible if we didn’t have them.

“Taking on some of those fears helps us to rationalise and find aspects of our life.

“Historically, for me, Halloween is about the ghosts and the ancestors and acknowledging them, so that is a perspective I take into Halloween.

“It’s not just about the caricatures and the dressing up and the evil parts, but it’s also about acknowledging outside of that.”

Natalia Ripani, Ballarat

Ballarat resident Natalia Ripani’s birthday is on Halloween.

“I already celebrated it last weekend, an early Halloween party with my friends dressing up.

“I think it’s good. I think Halloween would be cooler if it was a bit bigger in Australia.

“I think it’s fun to do. There’s such a big stigmatism around kids and being scared of monsters but when you actually dress up it’s not as scary.”

Jurney and Ella, CBD

Voices of Victoria: Jurney (middle) and Ella.

Ella said she didn’t like Halloween, and felt it was more of an American tradition.

“I feel like it would be better if we were in America, where more people celebrate it,” she said.

“Everyone celebrates there, but here it is just selective houses, and some parents hate it because their kids eat lots of junk food.”

Jurney said she didn’t really celebrate Halloween.

“I used to – my best friend, her mum is from America, so it was huge for her, but I don’t really celebrate it.”