For years Poland's Catholic Church had criticised US-style Halloween with its ghosts, vampires, devils and other scary figures as a pagan festival that undermined the solemn spirit of All Saints Day (Nov. 1). But commercial forces had succeeded in popularizing the trick-or-treat custom to some extent, so instead of just criticizing, concerend Catholics decided to counterattack. Dressed as their favorite saints and blesseds, on 31 October instead of tricking or treating in weird costumes many youngsters parade through the streets of Polish cities in merry song-filled marches that end with a prayer in church and treats and games at the parish rectory.
In Poland the saints come marching in on October 31st
Yes, in many countries. The Spanish-speaking world has Day of the Dead, Britain has All Saints' Day, Germany even has "Laternen gehen" in some towns up north, but it's not scary, just little kids walking in a harmless procession with their parents and collecting candies))))