Celebrating Halloween: How open data can be used to track traditions
across Europe
As the end of October approaches, Europe prepares for Halloween, a
celebration filled with costumes, pumpkins, and spooky stories. Though
originally rooted in Celtic traditions, Halloween has grown into a
widely celebrated occasion across many European countries, blending
folklore with modern festivities. 

Open data helps us understand how Halloween is evolving. For example,
datasets on consumer spending
[https://data.europa.eu/data/combined?query=consumer%20spending&locale=en]
show spikes in costume and candy purchases in October, while
agricultural
[https://data.europa.eu/data/combined?query=agriculture&locale=en]
data highlights the seasonal demand for pumpkins. Businesses can use
this data to forecast demand, manage inventory, and tailor marketing
strategies to meet consumer expectations during the Halloween
season. 

But Halloween is more than just costumes and candy; it is also a
moment when cities face challenges in public safety, waste management,
and event coordination. Open data provides the insights needed to
anticipate these changes, enabling smarter planning, better resource
allocation, and more informed decision-making for both authorities and
citizens. 

By exploring open data, we can uncover insights into how Halloween is
celebrated differently across European countries. Curious about how
many tonnes of pumpkins are harvested in your region? Or how Halloween
affects tourism and retail? The European Data Portal
[https://data.europa.eu/data/combined?query=halloween&locale=en]
offers access to datasets that can help answer these questions and
more. 

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Publication Date/Time
2025-10-31T09:00:00+00:00
Understanding seasonal trends through the lens of open data