Before we talk about Indonesia, let’s take a short trip back in time. Halloween began as an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain (pronounced “Sow-in”), marking the end of the harvest season and the start of winter. People believed that spirits of the dead returned to Earth on this night, so they lit bonfires and wore costumes to scare them away
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Over centuries, it blended with Christian traditions like All Saints’ Day, and later evolved into the fun, candy-filled, and costume-crazy celebration we know today. Kids go door-to-door shouting “Trick or treat!”, while adults enjoy costume parties, horror movies, and pumpkin carving.
Indonesia and Halloween: A Distant Relationship
In Indonesia, Halloween isn’t part of our cultural or religious calendar. We don’t have pumpkin patches, trick-or-treating, or haunted house traditions as part of our yearly routine.
However, globalization and especially the internet has brought Halloween closer to us. Thanks to movies, social media, and pop culture, many Indonesians (especially young people) are familiar with it. In cities like Jakarta, Bandung, Bali, and Surabaya, you’ll often see themed parties in cafés or malls with spooky decorations and fun costume contests.
It’s not really about ghosts or beliefs it’s about creativity, fun, and social connection.
Why Indonesians Don’t Really Celebrate Halloween
There are a few reasons why Halloween never really took root here
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Over centuries, it blended with Christian traditions like All Saints’ Day, and later evolved into the fun, candy-filled, and costume-crazy celebration we know today. Kids go door-to-door shouting “Trick or treat!”, while adults enjoy costume parties, horror movies, and pumpkin carving.
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| A bright Halloween pumpkin glowing at night with warm orange tones, symbolizing the global Halloween celebration. This image was created by me to share festive greetings and respect for those who celebrate Halloween around the world |
In Indonesia, Halloween isn’t part of our cultural or religious calendar. We don’t have pumpkin patches, trick-or-treating, or haunted house traditions as part of our yearly routine.
However, globalization and especially the internet has brought Halloween closer to us. Thanks to movies, social media, and pop culture, many Indonesians (especially young people) are familiar with it. In cities like Jakarta, Bandung, Bali, and Surabaya, you’ll often see themed parties in cafés or malls with spooky decorations and fun costume contests.
It’s not really about ghosts or beliefs it’s about creativity, fun, and social connection.
Why Indonesians Don’t Really Celebrate Halloween
There are a few reasons why Halloween never really took root here
1. Cultural and Religious Differences Indonesia already has rich traditions for honoring ancestors, like Nyadran, Ngaben in Bali, and visiting graves during Lebaran. These customs hold deep meaning, leaving little room for imported rituals.
2. No “Trick or Treat” Culture Indonesian neighborhoods don’t have the habit of children knocking on strangers’ doors for candy , it’s simply not part of our social norm.
3. Different Beliefs and Perceptions Some people associate Halloween with superstition or Western paganism, so they prefer to avoid it. Others just see it as a foreign trend, not an Indonesian celebration.
4. Tropical Climate Challenges Let’s be honest — wearing thick witch or vampire costumes in Indonesia’s hot weather would be more horror than fun!
When Halloween Meets Indonesian Creativity
Even without an official celebration, Indonesians love to add their own twist to global trends. Some local versions include:
Even without an official celebration, Indonesians love to add their own twist to global trends. Some local versions include:
• Café and mall decorations featuring pumpkins and fake spider webs.
• School or community costume parties, often mixed with anime or cosplay themes.
• Local ghost costumes like Pocong, Kuntilanak, or Genderuwo joining the fun alongside Dracula and zombies.
And honestly, our local ghosts are scarier than any Hollywood monster! Imagine a Halloween night featuring Kuntilanak , the legendary female ghost who screams from treetops , or a Pocong hopping through the neighborhood. That would be next-level spooky!
The Power of Pop Culture
Even though we don’t celebrate it traditionally, Halloween connects Indonesians to the global community through shared pop culture. We enjoy horror movies, themed parties, and fun social media posts much like how people worldwide celebrate Valentine’s Day or Christmas for the joy of it.
At its core, Halloween isn’t about religion it’s about imagination, community, and creative expression.
A Spooky Fun Fact from Indonesia: The Ghostly Origin of Pontianak
Now, here’s something you might not know. The city where I’ve been living for the last 30 years ,Pontianak, the capital of West Kalimantan , has its own ghostly legend.
The name Pontianak itself comes from “Kuntilanak”, a female ghost in Indonesian folklore known for her eerie laughter and mysterious appearance. When the city was founded, early settlers believed they encountered this spirit in the forest near the Kapuas River. To scare it away, they fired cannons and that’s how Pontianak was established
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| This image is for illustration purposes only. Due to my personal convictions, I wish to emphasize that this article in no way endorses a belief in the occult. Image from Rakyat Tempat Lawang. |
The Mysteries and History of Pontianak City. Pontianak’s history is wrapped in fascinating tales of the mystical and the mysterious. When Syarif Abdurrahman Alkadrie founded the city in 1771, it’s said he and his followers encountered a ghostly spirit the Kuntilanak, a female ghost from local folklore.
To drive the spirit away, they fired cannonballs into the dense forest where the cries were heard. The place where those cannonballs landed later became the foundation of Pontianak City. Even today, locals remember this story as part of the city’s identity, symbolizing the courage to face fear and the unknown.
The echoes of those ancient cannon shots are believed to have marked the beginning of a city that sits proudly on the Equator where myth meets history and the supernatural blends with everyday life.
Even today, that story remains part of the city’s identity, blending myth and history in a way that feels uniquely Indonesian. So while the world celebrates Halloween with pumpkins, we in Pontianak already live in a city named after a ghost!
Should Indonesians Celebrate Halloween?
It depends. Some people say, “No, that’s not our culture,” while others see it as just harmless fun. Both are valid.
If Indonesians celebrate Halloween, it doesn’t have to mean copying Western traditions. It can be a way to show creativity and connect with others globally perhaps even mixing our own ghost stories and folklore into the fun. Imagine Pocong and Dracula at the same party!
Summary
For most Indonesians, October 31 is just another day. But around the world, it’s a time for fun, laughter, and creativity. Whether or not we celebrate it, we can still appreciate the joy and imagination it brings.
Halloween, in the end, reminds us that people everywhere love stories ,scary or funny and that our differences make the world more colorful. A Friendly Message from Asep Haryono, Indonesia
To all my friends around the world who celebrate Halloween , have a spooky, joyful, and safe celebration!
Greetings from Indonesia, and may your day be filled with laughter, light, and a little bit of mystery.
Asep Haryono
Kubu Raya, West Kalimantan – INDONESIA
A Message From Asep Haryono
"Thank you so much for your time here. I really appreciate your precious moment here as well. Please leave any comment down below. Let me hear from you. Greetings from Indonesia"
My daughter loves Hallowe'en and all the pumpkins and cats and ghosts! It's very popular here in Scotland! :-D
ReplyDeleteEat, drink and be scary Miss Ananka
DeleteI hope you get lots of trick-or-treaters this year. Unless, of course, you’d prefer to keep all the candy for yourself
I don't like Hallowen. We don't celebrate it in Russia.
ReplyDeleteOh I am so sorry. I did know that
DeleteIts the fever🙂
ReplyDeleteThat is right. Thanks for coming
DeleteI absolutely hated Halloween as a kid because I was painfully shy, and the thought of going to the houses of strangers, put the fear of God into me. Now I absolutely love it. Of course I’m way too old to go trick-or-treating, but I love all the decor, the food, the dark nights, pretty much everything.
ReplyDeleteHello my friend. How is it going?
DeleteWell, that’s actually a really relatable and heartwarming story. It shows how people’s feelings toward certain traditions can completely change as they grow older.
I think it’s sweet that you went from fearing Halloween to loving everything about it. It kind of represents personal growth too overcoming fear and finding joy in what once felt uncomfortable.
Happy Halloween!
ReplyDeleteHappy November, ma'am
DeleteIt’s the first day of a brand-new month and a fresh Saturday full of possibilities.
Wishing you a wonderful start to November . May this month bring you peace, good health, and positive energy in everything you do. Have a great day ahead!
Happy Halloween as well
Asep Haryono
West Kalimantan
Indonesia
I'm surprised that Halloween has made it out to you. Every culture has its own traditions. I'm glad you've all found the fun in it.
ReplyDeleteWell, thank you
DeleteHappy Weekend
Halloween, is great.
ReplyDeleteObviously. Thanks for coming
DeleteIt's similar in Poland. Halloween clashes somewhat with our culture of honoring the dead, so there's still much controversy. Children have adopted this American custom more easily and have a great time, while adults are slower to accept it.
ReplyDeleteThat’s a really thoughtful observation my friend and actually, it’s quite accurate. I have searched for some resources which confitmed that in Poland (and in several other European countries), Halloween often overlaps with All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, which are deeply rooted in Catholic tradition. However, as you mentioned, younger generations tend to see Halloween differently , more as a fun cultural event, a chance to dress up, socialize, and enjoy global pop culture.
DeleteHappy Sunday
Greetings from Indonesia