Overview
- French Catholic exorcists Dominique Auzenet and Jean-Baptiste Édart caution that Halloween flirts with occultism and spiritism, and their association released a video warning parents about online tutorials that teach spells.
- Participation remains high, with more than 60% of French people celebrating and 76% among 18–24 year‑olds in one study, yet researchers say the festival’s integration into French life remains uneven.
- Retailers report strong seasonal business, including about €150 million for confectioners last year and rapid category growth at chains such as Gifi, though analysts attribute part of the rise to inflation and post‑COVID effects.
- Experts point to cultural friction with Toussaint’s solemn traditions and a national reluctance toward door‑to‑door customs, which they say limits the festival’s full adoption.
- Halloween’s roots trace to the Celtic Samhain and Christian All Hallows’ overlay, later reshaped in the United States into trick‑or‑treating and introduced to France in the 1990s through commercial promotion by major brands.