Halloween in the United States is more than just costumes, candy, and carved pumpkins. For many immigrant women, experiencing Halloween for the first time is a blend of curiosity, amusement, nostalgia, and discovery.
Back home, celebrations may have looked like very different festivals filled with light, rituals honoring ancestors, harvest gatherings, or vibrant cultural parades. Halloween, with its spooky charm and playful spirit, often feels mysterious at first. But soon, immigrant women find familiar threads woven into this new holiday i.e the joy of children dressing up, the neighbors gathering, the shared sweets, and the celebration of stories that connect generations.
Choosing a costume becomes an unexpected adventure. Some women embrace American pop culture icons; others weave their heritage into their attire traditional outfits with a Halloween twist, cultural symbols reimagined with playful creativity.
Carving a pumpkin often becomes its own mini-story. The surprise at how messy it is, the laughter shared over uneven eyes and crooked smiles, the pride of lighting a jack-o’-lantern on the porch for the first time And then comes pumpkin pie, apple cider, cinnamon scents — flavors that might be completely new, yet comforting in their warmth.
Halloween offers something deeply meaningful to immigrant women. Whether handing out candy, attending a school parade, or joining a community festival, the holiday becomes a gateway to connection. A moment where everyone, kids, families, newcomers, longtime locals celebrate side by side.
For immigrant women, Halloween is not just a holiday. It’s a doorway to belonging, to creativity, to sharing culture, and to building new memories in a new land.
She Carries Culture 