Modern-day Halloween in Canada is marked by scary decorations, fun and spooky costumes, and trick-or-treating. Here’s a glimpse into what goes on at Halloween. In Canada, trick-or-treaters visited homes on Halloween to ask for two things: candy and spare change. The candy was quickly disposed of, but the spare change went to supporting children in need around the world. The iconic UNICEF orange coin collection boxes were very much a part of Canada’s trick-or-treating history, until 2006 when UNICEF moved to an online donation system. On average, Canadians continue to donate $3 million every Halloween.

In his book, Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night, Nicholas Rogers writes that as Irish immigrants settled in urban North America, they would dress up for Halloween as part of humorous re-enactments. Newspaper reports refer to the sight of fairies and witches, while as early as 1874, Halloween masks were on sale in Kingston, Ontario. Grocery stores were quick to spot an opportunity, and sold a variety of seasonal nuts. An 1897 advertisement located by Mr Rogers refers to chocolates, creams, and gumdrops all on special offer to mark the occasion.

And while ‘guising’, or Halloween mischief, originated east of the Atlantic, it is Canada that lays claim to the earliest recorded usage of the phrase “trick or treat”. In 1927, a newspaper article in Alberta reported that pranksters were visiting houses demanding either a “trick or treat”. The tradition of pumpkins continues, however sometimes Canada’s wildlife can intervene. In 2014, residents of Banff, Alberta, were advised to take their pumpkins indoors, because a grizzly bear had been entering local gardens searching for food. It was feared the grizzly would arrive at people’s homes, because the desire to fatten up before the winter would make the pumpkins too irresistible. Trick or treat, indeed.

For those who love dressing up in costumes on Halloween, the biggest regret would be if there are many other people who have the same costume idea as them. Every year there are new ideas launched for outfits but the old favourites still reign. The top 10 Halloween costumes this year include some iconic horror movie characters and some inspired by popular films of the past year. Yet, the most popular costume of them all? A witch!

Horror icons from movies, superheroes, action stars, scifi characters will always be big but the other character-inspired costumes in the top 10 include Cruella de Vil, who most recently portrayed by Emma Stone in the self-title movie released in May, and Harley Quinn, played by Margot Robbie, who appeared in the role for the third time in this year’s “The Suicide Squad.”

The full top 10 for 2021 Halloween costumes:

1. Witch
2. Rabbit
3. Dinosaur
4. Spider-Man
5. Cruella de Vil
6. Fairy
7. Harley Quinn
8. Cowboy
9. Clown
10. Chucky

In Scotland and the Isle of Man, Halloween’s Celtic roots are honored through Samhain celebrations. While Americans don’t usually emphasize Halloween’s Celtic roots, the holiday’s ancient, Pagan forebear ? Samhain ? is still celebrated in Scotland and on the Isle of Man, one of the British Channel Islands, as well as Northern Ireland and Ireland. Meaning “summer’s end,” Samhain (which takes place from October 31 to November 1) marks the end of the harvest season and symbolizes the divide between the world of the living and the world of the dead. Samhain celebrations feature rituals such as bonfires and dancing.

Guy Fawkes Day (also known as Guy Fawkes Night and Bonfire Night) has historically been more significant than Halloween in the UK. Celebrated with parades, bonfires, and fireworks on November 5 ? you might be familiar with the rhyme “Remember, remember the fifth of November” ? Guy Fawkes Day commemorates the failed Gunpowder Plot. The scheme, orchestrated by Roman Catholics in 1605, was an attempt to blow up Parliament in response to King James I’s refusal to expand the religious freedom of Catholics. The commercialized, American version of Halloween, however, is also taking off.

Brits tend to wear more traditional Halloween costumes, dressing up as ghosts, zombies, and other fearsome creatures. In the UK, they tend to stick to the more traditional horror-inspired ghost/vampire/zombie/Frankenstein/ghoul costumes. It’s rare for people in the UK to put up an excessive amount of Halloween decorations. Some Halloween treats are exclusive to the US, while others are only available in the UK.

For instance, in a video posted by YouTube user Raphael Gomes it seems candy corn and pumpkin spice cotton candy aren’t a thing across the pond. But spooky sweets like Nestlé Milkybar Ghosts and Cadbury Pumpkin Patch Cakes are sold seasonally in the UK. Going door to door for candy is not as big a deal in the UK. Additionally, Brits might be more inclined to eat Halloween candy themselves rather than distribute it to kids. Dating to the middle ages, guising ? a shortening of disguising ? refers to the tradition of dressing kids in old clothes and having them mimic evil spirits on Halloween (known then as the Eve of All Saints Day or All Hallows Eve).

Going from house to house, they would be given offerings for warding off evil. Today in Scotland, children still go guising. But they’re expected to show off a talent (like singing or reciting a poem) in order to receive a treat. In Derry, the second-largest city in Northern Ireland, people celebrate Halloween with a four-day-long event called the Banks of the Foyle Carnival. The festivities include a haunted house, a parade, and more. A 2015 USA Today readers’ poll named Derry the best place in the world to celebrate Halloween.

Pumpkins are synonymous with autumn, and it’s hard to think of Halloween without picturing a glowing jack-o’-lantern. People in some parts of the UK, however, make lanterns from other root vegetables ? namely, rutabagas or turnips. The practice can possibly be traced to an Irish legend about a man named Jack who was cursed to wander the Earth by the light of a turnip lantern.

1. Naming babies after fruits, colours or even Japanese cars : According to Section 16 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1957, the Registrar has the authority to object to a name if it does not comply with the National Registration Department’s set guidelines. Restrictions are placed on names that include colours, animals, fruits, vegetables, natural elements, numbers, food and even adjectives.

2. Jaywalking : Jaywalking is banned in Malaysia although it has essentially become a part of our lives to conjure up the power of the hand and stop massive flows of traffic mid-stream. However, according to the law, crossing a street without the help of a zebra crossing or a pedestrian bridge is in fact illegal. Failure to uphold this law as stated in Section 45 of the Road Transport Act 1999 could lead to a minimum fine of RM30 and a maximum fine that reaches a mountainous RM500. Interestingly, jaywalking is also banned in many other countries – the US, Canada, Singapore, Spain, Poland, Slovenia and Australia.

3. Throwing a ring into a river : From throwing someone else’s ring into a river to melting an ice-house, these strange scenarios are considered acts of mischief in Malaysian law. Word for word, – if “A introduces water into an ice-house belonging to Z, and thus causes the ice to melt, intending wrongful loss to Z. A has committed mischief.” Found under Acts of Mischief in Penal Code 425, ring throwers and ice melters will be fined if found that their mischievous acts were fuelled on mal intent.

4. Acts of public indecency : Couples should think twice this Valentine’s Day before displaying excessive acts of public affection. Under Section 294(a) of the Penal Code, indecently acting and annoying others in public places like parks, streets and even theatres could have you fined or imprisoned for three months. Put into action back in 2006, a couple was charged and found guilty in court after acting “disorderly” in a public park. Their crime? They were passionately kissing and hugging under a tree.

5. RM100 fine when your dog chases a stranger : You’re in a public park (gosh what is up with parks) and Fluffy, your dog suddenly runs loose from her leash and decides to playfully chase a stranger – well unfortunately both you and Fluffy have now committed a crime. According to Act 336, “Dogs running at persons” is an actual law where dog owners will be held accountable and fined RM100 if their dog is caught chasing a stranger.

Halloween, celebrated annually on October 31, is one of the world’s oldest holidays. Although it’s derived from ancient festivals and religious rituals,  Halloween is still widely celebrated today in a number of countries around the globe. In countries such as Ireland, Canada and the United States, traditions include costume parties, trick-or-treating, pranks and games. Versions of the holiday are celebrated elsewhere, too. In Mexico and other Latin American countries, Día de los Muertos—the Day of the Dead—honors deceased loved ones and ancestors.

In Mexico, Latin America and Spain, All Souls’ Day, which takes place on November 2, is commemorated with a three-day celebration that begins on the evening of October 31. The celebration is designed to honor the dead who, it is believed, return to their earthly homes on Halloween. Many families construct an altar to the dead in their homes to honor deceased relatives and decorate it with candy, flowers, photographs, samples of the deceased’s favorite foods and drinks, and fresh water. Often, a wash basin and towel are left out so that the spirit can wash before indulging in the feast.

Candles and incense are burned to help the deceased find the way home. Relatives also tidy the gravesites of their departed family members. This can include snipping weeds, making repairs, and painting. The grave is then decorated with flowers, wreaths, or paper streamers. On November 2, relatives gather at the gravesite to picnic and reminisce. Some gatherings even include tequila and a mariachi band.