Does Greece Celebrate Halloween?

Not traditionally. Halloween is not a Greek holiday and is not a public holiday in Greece. You will find Halloween parties in Athens and Thessaloniki — mostly in bars, clubs and international schools — but trick-or-treating is rare. Greece’s real costume season is Apokries, the carnival before Orthodox Lent, which in 2027 peaks on the weekend of 13–14 March.

Is Halloween celebrated in Greece?

Only in a small way, and mostly in the cities. Over the past couple of decades, Halloween has arrived through films, television and tourism. On the weekend nearest 31 October, some bars and clubs in Athens and Thessaloniki hold costume nights, and some international and private schools throw parties for children.

Outside the big cities you are unlikely to notice it at all. There are no carved pumpkins on doorsteps, and children do not go door to door for sweets.

Is Halloween a public holiday in Greece?

No. 31 October is a normal working day, and shops, museums and archaeological sites keep their usual hours. The holiday that matters in late October is Oxi Day on 28 October (see below).

What is the Greek equivalent of Halloween?

The closest thing is Apokries (Απόκρεω), Greek carnival. For about three weeks before Orthodox Lent, Greeks dress up in costumes and masks, throw parties and parade through the streets. Children wear costumes to school, and adults go out in fancy dress — much as Americans do at Halloween.

Carnival ends on Clean Monday (Kathara Deftera), the first day of Lent, when families picnic outdoors and fly kites. The dates move each year with Orthodox Easter.

When is Apokries in 2027?

Orthodox Easter falls on 2 May 2027, so Clean Monday is 15 March 2027. The main carnival weekend, with the biggest parades and parties, is 13–14 March. Tsiknopempti (“Smoky Thursday”), when tavernas grill meat in the streets, is 4 March.

The largest celebration is the Patras Carnival in the Peloponnese, with weeks of events ending in a grand parade on the final Sunday. Other well-known carnivals include Xanthi in the north and Rethymno on Crete.

Are there spooky traditions in Greek folklore?

Yes, just not on 31 October. The best-known are the kallikantzaroi, mischievous goblins said to come up from beneath the earth during the twelve days of Christmas. According to legend, they slip down chimneys, spoil food and play tricks on families, and are driven back underground at Epiphany on 6 January, when the waters are blessed.

Greece also has its own days for remembering the dead. On the Soul Saturdays (Psychosavvata) of the Orthodox calendar — the main ones fall before Lent and before Pentecost — families take koliva, a dish of boiled wheat, to church in memory of loved ones.

What happens in Greece at the end of October?

Oxi Day, 28 October, is a national holiday commemorating Greece’s refusal of Mussolini’s ultimatum in 1940 — “Oxi” means “No”. Towns and cities hold parades of students and the military, and buildings fly the Greek flag. If you are in Greece for Halloween, Oxi Day is the celebration you will actually see. On the day itself, expect banks, offices and many shops to close.

Is late October a good time to visit Greece?

For many travelers, yes. The summer crowds have gone and Athens is usually still warm enough to sightsee comfortably. The sea is still swimmable in the south, especially on Crete and Rhodes. The trade-off is that many seasonal hotels and restaurants on smaller islands close for the winter around the end of October, so plan island stays carefully.

See our guide to traveling in Greece in shoulder season, or read more about Greek holidays and traditions.

Plan a trip to Greece

Whether you want to catch Apokries in March or enjoy the quiet of autumn, a specialist can time your trip around the celebrations. Explore our Greece tours, start with an Athens city stay, or book a free consultation.