Halloween did not originate in Colombia, but for more than half a century it has been part of the country’s cultural calendar. Like many other now-common celebrations, the holiday is linked to agricultural cycles and popular life. In this sense, its roots lie in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter in Ireland and Scotland.
With the expansion of Christianity, the Church transformed it — just as it did with many other religious celebrations such as Valentine’s Day, St. John’s Day, or Christmas itself — into the eve of All Saints’ Day — All Hallows’ Eve —, from which the name Halloween derives. It was in the United States that it took on its modern form: costumes, pumpkins, candy, and horror movies.
That American version reached Colombia in the mid-20th century, driven by the cultural and media influence of the United States during its period of cultural hegemony in the Western world. Spanish-dubbed movies, television programs, and the opening of the first shopping malls brought with them a celebration that at first aroused both curiosity and rejection.
Many conservative sectors considered it a foreign custom or even an exaltation of the satanic, while others saw it as an opportunity for innocent fun. Today, it is a celebration fully integrated into the calendar of popular traditions among Colombian citizens.
Halloween in Colombia: Between imported tradition and local celebration
During the 1960s and 1970s, Halloween was celebrated mainly in bilingual schools, embassies, and neighborhoods where foreign families lived. Children dressed up as classic characters — witches, vampires, ghosts — and went from house to house asking for candy using the imported phrase “trick or treat,” which was soon adapted into Spanish as “triqui triqui, Halloween.” It was a small, urban celebration associated with certain social sectors.
With television and the cultural globalization of the 1980s, the celebration spread rapidly, attracted by the economic benefits the holiday entailed. Stores began selling masks and costumes; children’s TV shows dedicated special episodes to the date, and public schools also organized contests and parades. Halloween thus became a national celebration without being officially recognized as one.
At the same time, the first local adaptations appeared. In rural areas or small towns, where houses are farther apart, children began visiting stores or public institutions in search of candy. In working-class neighborhoods, “triqui triqui” blended with music, dancing, and improvised costumes made from garbage bags or old clothes. The holiday became a reflection of Colombian ingenuity in appropriating foreign traditions without losing its own identity.
A massive and commercial celebration in Colombia
Today, Halloween is one of the most eagerly awaited dates of the year, especially for children. From mid-October, shopping mall windows fill up with orange pumpkins, cobwebs, and skeletons. Companies organize costume contests, and schools dedicate an entire day to themed activities.
In large cities, the streets of residential neighborhoods in Bogota, Medellin, or Cali fill with families walking through gated communities handing out candy.
Commerce has found a golden opportunity in Halloween. Costume shops, bakeries, and pastry stores multiply their sales; social media drives trends that mix horror with fashion, and restaurants offer “haunted” menus.
For young people and adults, the date is associated with nighttime parties, themed concerts, and more sophisticated costume contests. In some cases, bars compete to offer the most elaborate decorations or the biggest prize for the best outfit.
Despite its consumerist nature, Halloween has also become a space for creativity and connection. Costumes are not limited to horror: Characters from movies, TV series, and video games abound, and every year new references appear to the country’s political or social events. In this way, the celebration also functions as a collective parody—a humorous mirror of the times.
The impact of Halloween on the Colombian economy
The celebration of Halloween is clearly a driver of consumption and commercial activity in Colombia. According to data from the National Federation of Merchants (Fenalco), 73% of Colombians plan to celebrate it this year.
The economic impact is reflected on several fronts. Regarding spending on costumes and accessories, 44% of those surveyed expect to invest between 100,000 and 200,000 Colombian pesos, while an additional 18% will spend more than 200,000 pesos on their own outfit or that of their children. Also, in a curiously growing trend, 41% of households plan to dress up their pets.
In the candy and sweets sector, the boost is also significant: 77% of families will buy treats for the celebration, with 65% planning to do so at home and 26% in the workplace. The categories that benefit the most include fashion (costumes), themed decoration, entertainment, and gastronomy, as 26% of respondents will go trick-or-treating, 24% will visit shopping malls, and 19% will attend themed parties.
Beyond the numbers, the added value lies in the production of experiences: 29% of consumers would seek shows, 28% themed decorations, and 25% interactive activities — a sign that atmosphere has become a central part of the business.
Today, Halloween stands as one of the most profitable seasons of the year for Colombian commerce. In Bogota, the holiday accounts for 60% of all candy sales for the entire year. Beyond that, the generation of consumption dynamics for small- and medium-sized businesses that supply costumes, candy, decoration, and entertainment represents a notable boost in sales.
Related: Day of the Dead: A Mexican Tradition Embraced Across Latin America.
Between criticism and coexistence with local traditions
Not all Colombians celebrate Halloween. Every year, some religious and community groups promote alternatives under names such as “Children’s Day” or “Festival of Light,” seeking to replace symbols of fear with values of togetherness. These initiatives coexist with the original celebration without major conflict, reflecting the country’s cultural and religious diversity.
Moreover, in various regions of Colombia there are local traditions that coincide with the dates at the end of October and beginning of November. In towns along the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, for example, the observance of All Souls’ Day has a strong family and spiritual component, with prayers, cemetery visits, and traditional meals.
In some Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities, ancestors are remembered with music and offerings — customs that share the symbolic background of death and remembrance.
This temporal overlap has produced an interesting fusion: In some places, children celebrate Halloween on Oct. 31 and accompany their families to the cemetery the next day. Thus, Colombian popular culture manages to keep fun and respect for the dead together, without seeing any contradiction between the two.
Halloween in Colombia continues to evolve. Social media has changed the way it is celebrated: Costumes are planned for photos and videos, companies use the date for advertising campaigns, and influencers set trends that are then replicated in schools and on the streets. However, its essence — the chance to play, laugh at fear, and share with others — remains intact.
Unlike other holidays, Halloween does not belong to any religion or social class, and perhaps that is why it has taken such deep root. Although it was born far away and retains foreign symbols, in Colombia it has acquired its own tone — a mix of humor, creativity, and cultural openness. It is a tradition that has been adopted, yes, but also adapted: Yet another example of how the country transforms what is external into something of its own, without losing its ability to celebrate.
Related: ‘The Pact’: A Horror Musical Born from a True Colombian Tragedy.