Hamburg's police are preparing for a peaceful Halloween festival in 2025!

Hamburg's police are preparing for a peaceful Halloween festival in 2025!

On October 31st it's that time again: Halloween is just around the corner! The evening, traditionally celebrated as the Night of the Ghosts, brings with it numerous activities. This year, like last year, the Hamburg police are preparing for an exciting Halloween night. While past celebrations have been largely peaceful, preventive measures are necessary to ensure that everyone can celebrate safely. As [NDR](https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/hamburg/hamburger-polizei- preparet-sich-auf-halloween-nacht-vor,halloween-236.html) reports, the police have prepared for a strong presence, particularly in the districts of Harburg, Wilhelmsburg, Billstedt and Steilshoop, in order to prevent possible riots.

Last year, no riots were reported in the Harburger Ring, which fuels hopes for a quiet night this year. Nevertheless, district police have been trying to talk to young people in schools, youth clubs and mosque communities for several days in order to raise awareness for a peaceful Halloween night. Despite respect for the tradition of celebrating the evening with costumes and sweets, safety concerns remain significant. After all, there have been clashes between young people and the police in the past, in which firecrackers were thrown at emergency services.

Safety precautions and new technologies

In order to ensure safety, this year we will also be working with drones for the first time, which will be used to detect possible nuisances or criminal offenses at an early stage. This measure is part of a comprehensive security concept that also includes the use of mobile camera masts. The areas of operation of the drones are concentrated in Harburg, where problems have arisen in the past. These technological tools not only support preventative monitoring, but are also used to record accidents and crime scenes.

There was a moment's attention when a man from Wilhelmsburg frightened children with a rifle, which further brought the security situation into focus. Nevertheless, the police are optimistic and expect an overall quiet night from Friday to Saturday.

The Origins of Halloween

But what exactly do we celebrate on Halloween? Originally known as Hallowe'en, Allhalloween, or All Hallows' Eve, October 31 marks the eve of All Saints' Day. Wikipedia explains that Halloween is a mixture of ancient, pre-Christian traditions, such as the Celtic harvest festivals, as well as Christian customs. The custom of going to “soul cakes” and collecting them in exchange for prayers is considered a forerunner of today's trick-or-treating.

Diversified customs are also included: from costume parties to pumpkin carving, where a jack-o-lantern is carved out of a pumpkin. Visiting haunted houses and apple diving are also popular activities today. In recent years, however, Halloween has also become a commercial celebration, with ever-increasing spending on costumes, decorations and candy. Predictions suggest that over $12 billion will be spent on the celebrations in the US in 2023 alone.

So nothing stands in the way of a colorful and happy Halloween, as long as safety and consideration are the priority. In the end, do we really need to be afraid of the ghosts, or do we just make sure it's a quiet and festive night? No matter which side you take, one thing is certain: Halloween remains a day of ghosts, candy and surprise encounters!