Halloween Traditions at US Universities

If you’re a fan of scary movies, chances are you’ll have seen (or at least heard of) The Exorcist. What you may not know is that the legendary film was partly shot at Georgetown University. Because of this, since 1973 it has been tradition for students to gather at either Copley Lawn or Gaston Hall every Halloween, where the movie is screened.

The movie finishes just before midnight, ‘the witching hour’, and then students head to the local cemetery as part of this Halloween celebration, where at midnight they howl at the moon. It’s said these howls can be heard for miles around.

While this one isn’t a tradition as such, it’s still pretty cool. Every year on Halloween, Dr Tom Carter hosts a class on paranormal activity, entitled ‘Ghosts and Human Perception’; a class which explores how paranormal activity and people’s perceptions of it has changed across time.

The class supposedly teaches students research and collaborative skills, but frankly just sounds like a great excuse for students to go around the haunted Monterey House – something they do every year to put their knowledge into practice.

Every year the Arboretum at Penn State University there is a ‘Pumpkin Festival’ which takes place just before Halloween. A few days before the contest, the university hands out around 1,000 pumpkins in preparation for the event, and submissions must be made before a certain date.

The carved pumpkins will then be judged, with award ribbons rewarded for the best three pumpkins in each age category, the best in show, the best pop culture theme, the best Penn State theme and the best Arboretum. There is also family crafts, face painting, a magician and strolling musicians. What’s not to love about this spooky Halloween celebration?

UCLA’s annual ‘All Hill Halloween’ sees UCLA invite over 2,500 elementary and middle school students from low income backgrounds to dress up and go trick or treating around UCLA’s residence halls.

The event offers a safe and friendly space for these children to go trick or treating, where it wouldn’t be safe to do so in their own neighborhoods. The event is enjoyed by children and students alike; with UCLA students decorating their halls and buying lots of sweets for this fun Halloween celebration.

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What are you doing to celebrate Halloween this year? Let us know in the comments below!