Halloween is just around the corner for some of us, but did you know that some of the festivities around the world only exist because of expats? Halloween in Canada began when Scottish and Irish immigrants arrived in the 1800’s and brought decorations, costumes and trick-or-treating. Pumpkin carving used to “beet carving” in the UK until there was a US influence. China don’t have just one celebration but they also have the Hungry Ghost Festival, the Qing Ming Festival, the Double 9th Festival and the Spring Festival—All of which started in areas with lots of expats and foreign teachers. Both Hong Kong and Japan started to use Halloween to promote their theme parks for tourists.

This left me with 2 burning questions;

1. What other traditions have/will our expats be spreading across the globe?

2. What other traditions may take expats by surprise when they land?

Never underestimate the power of cultural exchange—It’s not just about what expats bring to a country, but what they take away, creating vibrant new experiences that enrich the lives of all involved.