History UsefulNotes / AllHallowsEve

* '''Decoration:''' Halloween trails only UsefulNotes/{{Christmas|InAmerica}} as the most popular holiday for decorating one's house, and as with Christmas said decoration nowadays can take place [[ChristmasCreep weeks or even months ahead of time]]. The Celtic jack-o'-lantern tradition has been imported largely intact, the main difference being that pumpkins have replaced turnips as the carved vegetable of choice (pumpkins being larger, easier to carve and more common in North America). Most people carve the usual scary faces into their jack-o'-lanterns, although some will carve funny faces, words, or images. In addition to jack-o'-lanterns, people will decorate their property with scarecrows, witches, spiders, tombstones, hands reaching out of the ground, and various items (blood splatters, hand prints) in their windows. Invariably, at least one home's decorations will be too realistic, leading to the police being called about the "murder scene" and the very pleased-with-themselves owner on the news as a human interest story. (And in the other direction, there was [[http://www.people.com/article/murdered-woman-body-hanging-fence-initially-mistaken-halloween-decoration one time]] when an actual murder victim was mistaken for a decoration.)

* '''Decoration:''' Halloween trails only UsefulNotes/{{Christmas|InAmerica}} as the most popular holiday for decorating one's house. The Celtic jack-o'-lantern tradition has been imported largely intact, the main difference being that pumpkins have replaced turnips as the carved vegetable of choice (pumpkins being larger, easier to carve and more common in North America). Most people carve the usual scary faces into their jack-o'-lanterns, although some will carve funny faces, words, or images. In addition to jack-o'-lanterns, people will decorate their property with scarecrows, witches, spiders, tombstones, hands reaching out of the ground, and various items (blood splatters, hand prints) in their windows. Invariably, at least one home's decorations will be too realistic, leading to the police being called about the "murder scene" and the very pleased-with-themselves owner on the news as a human interest story. (And in the other direction, there was [[http://www.people.com/article/murdered-woman-body-hanging-fence-initially-mistaken-halloween-decoration one time]] when an actual murder victim was mistaken for a decoration.)

Some conservative Christians, however, feel that Halloween trivializes or outright celebrates the occult and is therefore incompatible with the Christian faith. To bolster this stance they point to the holiday's Celtic pagan connections, [[UsefulNotes/{{Wicca}} which they feel to be Satanic]]. There have been many religious challenges to and protests against the celebration of Halloween over the years, particularly in the "[[UsefulNotes/AmericanChurches Bible Belt]]" region of [[DeepSouth the South]] and [[DownOnTheFarm the rural Midwest]]. A recent tradition among conservative Christians has been to hold "Halloween alternative parties" in which people dress up as Biblical characters, and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell_house "Hell houses"]] as TheMoralSubstitute to regular Halloween attractions. At Hell houses, the attendees are shown scenes meant to portray the decadence of secular culture, finally ending in a room that represents either {{heaven}}, which is the reward for not behaving in the manner just witnessed, or {{hell}}, occupied by {{Satan}}, who claims that all of the characters they had seen (who usually reappear here) are now firmly in his grasp. Afterwards, in order to get out, the attendees must agree to be "saved" (become born-again Christians) or traverse the length of the building. In some cases, the Hell house is marketed as a normal haunted house, thus making it a BaitAndSwitch in which unwitting attendees don't realize that they're going to a fire-and-brimstone sermon until they're already through the door.

Some conservative Christians, however, feel that Halloween trivializes or outright celebrates the occult and is therefore incompatible with the Christian faith. They point to its Celtic pagan connections, [[UsefulNotes/{{Wicca}} which they feel to be Satanic]]. There have been many religious challenges to and protests against the celebration of Halloween over the years, particularly in the "[[UsefulNotes/AmericanChurches Bible Belt]]" region of [[DeepSouth the South]] and [[DownOnTheFarm the rural Midwest]]. A recent tradition among conservative Christians has been to hold "Halloween alternative parties" in which people dress up as Biblical characters, and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell_house "Hell houses"]] as TheMoralSubstitute to regular Halloween attractions. At Hell houses, the attendees are shown scenes meant to portray the decadence of secular culture, finally ending in a room that represents either {{heaven}}, which is the reward for not behaving in the manner just witnessed, or {{hell}}, occupied by {{Satan}}, who claims that all of the characters they had seen (who usually reappear here) are now firmly in his grasp. Afterwards, in order to get out, the attendees must agree to be "saved" (become born-again Christians) or traverse the length of the building. In some cases, the Hell house is marketed as a normal haunted house, thus making it a BaitAndSwitch in which unwitting attendees don't realize that they're going to a fire-and-brimstone sermon until they're already through the door.

Some conservative Christians, however, feel that Halloween trivializes and celebrates the occult and is incompatible with the Christian faith. They point to its Celtic pagan connections, [[UsefulNotes/{{Wicca}} which they feel to be Satanic]]. There have been many religious challenges to and protests against the celebration of Halloween over the years, particularly in the "[[UsefulNotes/AmericanChurches Bible Belt]]" region of [[DeepSouth the South]] and [[DownOnTheFarm the rural Midwest]]. A recent tradition among conservative Christians has been to hold "Halloween alternative parties" in which people dress up as Biblical characters, and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell_house "Hell houses"]] as TheMoralSubstitute to regular Halloween attractions. At Hell houses, the attendees are shown scenes meant to portray the decadence of secular culture, finally ending in a room that represents either {{heaven}}, which is the reward for not behaving in the manner just witnessed, or {{hell}}, occupied by {{Satan}}, who claims that all of the characters they had seen (who usually reappear here) are now firmly in his grasp. Afterwards, in order to get out, the attendees must agree to be "saved" (become born-again Christians) or traverse the length of the building. In some cases, the Hell house is marketed as a normal haunted house, thus making it a BaitAndSwitch in which unwitting attendees don't realize that they're going to a fire-and-brimstone sermon until they're already through the door.

For the most part, Catholics and mainline Protestants are tolerant of the holiday, seeing any ties to paganism as having long since been buried by centuries of Christian and secular tradition -- after all, does anybody, apart from Jehovah's Witnesses, complain about the connections between [[UsefulNotes/ChristmasInAmerica modern Christmas celebrations]] and the pagan solstice holiday of Yule? To them, it is a harmless, secular holiday built around imaginary monsters and handing out candy. Catholic schools often hold Halloween celebrations, and a Vatican exorcist has said that the day is harmless. The Catholic and Anglican Churches may emphasize All Saints' Day, the celebration that comes after Halloween, while Protestants may celebrate Reformation Day -- the day when in 1517, Martin Luther started The Protestant Reformation -- which falls on the same day. However, these celebrations are usually held simultaneously with Halloween, rather than in opposition to it. The laissez-faire attitude that Catholics hold to the holiday makes sense -- the Catholic Church was instrumental in Christianizing the holiday, and it was Irish Catholics who brought Halloween to America in the first place.

Today, Halloween is considered a major holiday in the U.S., Canada, Mexico (where it retains more of a Catholic bent, as it falls right before the Día de los Muertos celebrations), and the British Isles (where it is more strongly influenced by the older traditions, particularly in Ireland, Scotland, Northern England and Wales). It has also caught on in mainland Europe, India, the Philippines, and Japan through exposure to American media. It's that part about American media that often creates the most criticism of Halloween outside North America and the British Isles. France, for instance, has long been resistant to celebrating the holiday, seeing it as a form of American cultural imperialism, and celebrations are largely limited to the expat communities. The Australians are more accepting, especially in recent years (it helps that many Australians claim Irish or Scottish ancestry), but it is highly controversial for the same reasons that it is in France; a typical sight in newspapers around October is articles railing against the holiday and the "creeping Americanism" it represents (especially given that, in Australia, October marks the beginning of ''spring'').

* '''Haunted attractions:''' Starting in late September, {{amusement park}}s go on a massive Halloween splurge, giving all of their attractions a horror theme, dressing the employees in spooky costumes and makeup, and putting up most of the aforementioned decorations. It helps that, north of the snow line, most amusement parks close for the winter at the start of November, making Halloween their last hurrah for the year. This practice died down for a couple of years after September 11th due to the perception that it was TooSoon to be glamorizing death and horror, but has since kicked back in with a vengeance. Many parks are famous for their big-budget Halloween attractions, such as Ride/UniversalStudios for Theatre/HalloweenHorrorNights and Ride/BuschGardens for Theatre/HowlOScream, both of which draw in millions of visitors from across America and beyond.\\

A recent trend has been for women's Halloween costumes to crank up the {{fanservice}} with plenty of [[AbsoluteCleavage cleavage]], [[ShesGotLegs leg]], [[BareYourMidriff midriff]], and [[HellBentForLeather leather]]. In fact, as noted on the page for HotterAndSexier, the "[[{{Stripperiffic}} slutty]] [[SexyWhateverOutfit Halloween costume]]" is almost a trope in and of itself, with [[http://www.yandy.com/ entire companies]] specializing in making sexy costumes. Halloween has been described (most famously by [[Film/MeanGirls Cady Heron]]) as the one day when women are allowed to pretty much dress like strippers without any repercussions, no matter how strait-laced they are on the other 364 days of the year, while Creator/DanSavage has [[http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/happy-heteroween/Content?oid=2594616 called it]] the closest thing that straight people have to a gay pride parade, or that Americans have to Carnival or Mardi Gras. That said, it does make for good SnarkBait, with lists of the most [[FetishRetardant laughable]] "sexy" Halloween costumes cropping up every October. And in case you were wondering, while it is less common, guys get in on this too; the usual male variation of the above is either the WalkingShirtlessScene, or something that calls attention to the guy's junk (like elephants, hot dogs, genie bottles, or "ball pits").

And finally, with so much controversy over its pagan history, what do actual pagans think about it? Celtic pagans (of both the [[UsefulNotes/NeoPaganism neo-pagan]] and reconstructionist variety) consider the season to be a holy time of year, and make offerings to the gods and the ancestors. A fair number of UsefulNotes/{{Wicca}}ns, however, feel that the modern, Western incarnation of the holiday is offensive -- they see it as promoting old stereotypes and caricatures of "{{wicked witch}}es" that serve to make people suspicious and fearful of real-life pagans and witches. (The ''Series/BostonLegal'' episode "Witches of Mass Destruction" featured conservative Christians and hardline Wiccans [[EnemyMine teaming up against Halloween]], which is sad.)

* '''Costumes:''' One of the standout features of the holiday. The Halloween costume has traditionally been some form of [[OurMonstersAreDifferent monster]] -- popular choices include [[OurGhostsAreDifferent ghosts]] (particularly of the [[BedsheetGhost bedsheet]] variety), [[DemBones skeletons]], [[WickedWitch witches]], [[OurDemonsAreDifferent demons]], [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampires]], [[OurZombiesAreDifferent zombies]], and [[SlasherMovie masked slashers]]. Big rubber masks are often a component, as is [[KensingtonGore fake blood]]. Other popular (and less scary or supernatural) choices include [[EmergencyServices police officers, firefighters]], {{pirate}}s, soldiers, doctors, [[NaughtyNurseOutfit nurses]], animals, [[EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses princesses]], [[HalloweenCosplay TV and movie characters]], Presidential candidates in election years[[note]]Election Day in the US falls no more than eight days after Halloween, meaning that the holiday occurs at the climax of the campaign. In fact, [[http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1856094_1856096_1856106,00.html connections have been made]] between the candidate who sells the most masks and the one who wins the election. [[NixonMask Masks of]] UsefulNotes/RichardNixon, of course, are also a perennial favorite.[[/note]], and costumes that parody the year's events, often in [[GallowsHumor a macabre and deliberately provocative fashion]] (such as a celebrity who died recently, or a victim of a recent disaster). Historically, costumes based on [[NationalStereotypes ethnic groups and stereotypes]] (particularly UsefulNotes/NativeAmericans) were popular, and many stores still carry them, but [[ValuesDissonance these days]], going out in such a costume is as likely to get you an earful as it is to get you a compliment.\\

TV channels, particularly cable channels, run marathons of horror films for weeks, from [[Franchise/UniversalHorror the old]] [[Film/HammerHorror classics]] (''Film/{{Dracula|1931}}'', ''Film/{{Frankenstein|1931}}'', ''Film/{{The Wolf Man|1941}}'') to modern ones (''Franchise/FridayThe13th'', ''Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet'', ''Film/TheExorcist'', ''Film/DawnOfTheDead'', ''Franchise/{{Scream}}'', and of course, ''Franchise/{{Halloween}}''), as well as shows like ''Series/TheAddamsFamily'' and ''Series/{{The Twilight Zone|1959}}''. For kids and those not in the mood to be scared, ''WesternAnimation/ItsTheGreatPumpkinCharlieBrown'' is usually on the air somewhere, as are other {{Halloween special}}s both classic and modern. Most [[LongRunners long-running]] TV shows do at least one HalloweenEpisode during their run; among the most famous Halloween episodes are ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''[='=] annual "WesternAnimation/TreehouseOfHorror" anthology episodes.

* '''Costumes:''' One of the standout features of the holiday. The Halloween costume has traditionally been some form of [[OurMonstersAreDifferent monster]] -- popular choices include [[OurGhostsAreDifferent ghosts]] (particularly of the [[BedsheetGhost bedsheet]] variety), [[DemBones skeletons]], [[WickedWitch witches]], [[OurDemonsAreDifferent demons]], [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampires]], [[OurZombiesAreDifferent zombies]], and [[SlasherMovie masked slashers]]. Big rubber masks are often a component, as is [[KensingtonGore fake blood]]. Other popular (and less scary or supernatural) choices include [[EmergencyServices police officers, firefighters]], {{pirate}}s, soldiers, doctors, [[NaughtyNurseOutfit nurses]], animals, [[EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses princesses]], [[HalloweenCosplay TV and movie characters]], Presidential candidates in election years[[note]]Election Day in the US falls no more than eight days after Halloween, meaning that the holiday occurs at the climax of the campaign. In fact, [[http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1856094_1856096_1856106,00.html connections have been made]] between the candidate who sells the most masks and the one who wins the election. [[NixonMask Masks of]] UsefulNotes/RichardNixon, of course, are also a perennial favorite.[[/note]], and costumes that parody the year's events, often in [[GallowsHumor a macabre and deliberately provocative fashion]] (such as a celebrity who died recently, or a victim of a recent disaster). Historically, costumes based on [[NationalStereotypes ethnic groups and stereotypes]] (particularly UsefulNotes/NativeAmericans) were popular, and many stores still carry them, but [[ValuesDissonance these days]], going out in such a costume is as likely to [[DudeNotFunny get you an earful]] as it is to get you a compliment.\\

* '''Trick-or-treating:''' A practice that is mostly celebrated by children and their parents (although some will tell you that you're never too old to trick-or-treat), in which they go door-to-door asking for candy, saying "Trick or treat!" whenever the door is opened. The "trick" refers to the (mostly idle) threat of performing mischief against the homeowners or their property if no treats are given. No, most of us do not view this as extortion. A house is marked as "open" for trick-or-treaters by the presence of a lit jack-o'-lantern and porch lights. Trick-or-treating usually takes place at very specific hours of the evening (often 5-8 PM) so that kids won't stay out too late. The treats are almost always wrapped candies bought from a store, such as chocolate bars, lollipops, Twizzlers, and candy corn. Sometimes, people giving out candy, not wanting to be bothered to go to the door, choose to rely on the honor system, leaving a bowl of candy that kids are expected to only take small amounts of. [[{{Jerkass}} Kids being kids]], the bowl is usually empty, if not outright gone, halfway through the night. A similar, older tradition in Scotland and Wales is 'guising', where the children are expected to do a 'turn' (e.g. recite a poem or tell a few jokes) before they get any sweets. \\

TV channels, particularly cable channels, run marathons of horror films for weeks, from [[Franchise/UniversalHorror the old]] [[Film/HammerHorror classics]] (''Film/{{Dracula|1931}}'', ''Film/{{Frankenstein|1931}}'', ''Film/{{The Wolf Man|1941}}'') to modern ones (''Franchise/FridayThe13th'', ''Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet'', ''Film/TheExorcist'', ''Film/DawnOfTheDead'', ''Franchise/{{Scream}}'', and of course, ''Franchise/{{Halloween}}''), as well as shows like ''Series/TheAddamsFamily'' and ''Series/TheTwilightZone''. For kids and those not in the mood to be scared, ''WesternAnimation/ItsTheGreatPumpkinCharlieBrown'' is usually on the air somewhere, as are other {{Halloween special}}s both classic and modern. Most [[LongRunners long-running]] TV shows do at least one HalloweenEpisode during their run; among the most famous Halloween episodes are ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''[='=] annual "WesternAnimation/TreehouseOfHorror" anthology episodes.

Halloween was imported to the US and Canada in the 19th century, a time that saw substantial [[TheIrishDiaspora Irish]] and Scottish migration to the New World. Back in this time, Halloween in North America was more of a celebration of Irish and Scottish heritage than anything else, much like Columbus Day is for Italian Americans. It was celebrated with large feasts, apple bobbing, and other divination games, as well as pranks and mischief. By the turn of the century, the "pranks and mischief" had become the defining feature of Halloween, turning it into a night of vandalism. As a result, the Boy Scouts and neighborhood groups started working to turn Halloween back into a safe celebration, organizing trick-or-treating events based around the old practice of "guising" to redirect the focus of the festivities away from violence. With Halloween now becoming a popular celebration outside of Welsh, Irish and Scottish neighborhoods, retailers seized upon a brilliant opportunity to have a new holiday to commercialize. While there was some commercialization going on before (mass-produced costumes were appearing in [[TheGreatDepression the 1930s]]), it really took off after UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, and it hasn't stopped since.

* '''Costumes:''' One of the standout features of the holiday. The Halloween costume has traditionally been some form of [[OurMonstersAreDifferent monster]] -- popular choices include [[OurGhostsAreDifferent ghosts]] (particularly of the [[BedsheetGhost bedsheet]] variety), [[DemBones skeletons]], [[WickedWitch witches]], [[OurDemonsAreDifferent demons]], [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampires]], [[OurZombiesAreDifferent zombies]], and [[SlasherMovie masked slashers]]. Big rubber masks are often a component, as is [[KensingtonGore fake blood]]. Other popular (and less scary or supernatural) choices include [[EmergencyServices police officers, firefighters]], {{pirate}}s, soldiers, doctors, [[NaughtyNurseOutfit nurses]], animals, [[EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses princesses]], [[HalloweenCosplay TV and movie characters]], Presidential candidates in election years[[note]]Election Day in the US falls no more than eight days after Halloween, meaning that the holiday occurs at the climax of the campaign. In fact, [[http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1856094_1856096_1856106,00.html connections have been made]] between the candidate who sells the most masks and the one who wins the election. [[NixonMask Masks of]] UsefulNotes/RichardNixon, of course, are also a perennial favorite.[[/note]], and costumes that parody the year's events, often in [[GallowsHumor a macabre and deliberately provocative fashion]] (such as a celebrity who died recently, or a victim of a recent disaster). Historically, costumes based on [[NationalStereotypingTropes ethnic groups and stereotypes]] (particularly UsefulNotes/NativeAmericans) were popular, and many stores still carry them, but [[ValuesDissonance these days]], going out in such a costume is as likely to [[DudeNotFunny get you an earful]] as it is to get you a compliment.\\

The roots of what we now know as Halloween are descended from the Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced "sah-win"), which means "summers end." The ancient Celts believed that the "veil" between the worlds of the living and the dead was thin from the night of October 31st through to the night of November 1st; anybody who knows anything about Halloween knows where this is going. It was the Celtic new year, a time when spiritual power heightened, marking the last harvest, the end of foraging for livestock, and the beginning of winter. Samhain was then adapted into the Catholic celebration of All Saints' Day, or "All Hallows Eve," which was then contracted into "Halloween." Originally, in the seventh century, All Saints' Day was celebrated on May 13th, right after Easter. A few centuries later, it was shifted to November, to incorporate Celtic Samhain traditions in an effort to convert pagans. Some Orthodox churches continue to celebrate it in April, as did the Irish for a time. The revival of Celtic culture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries only deepened interest in Samhain, contributing to its transformation into the modern holiday of Halloween.

* '''Parties:''' As noted under AmericanHolidays, Americans will never resist the temptation to go out and party. After trick-or-treating ends, kids and their parents usually go to their friends' houses to bob for apples, search for candy in the backyard, tell spooky stories, and compare their respective hauls for the night. Pumpkin pie may be served. Teenagers and young adults, meanwhile, often have parties of their own. Horror movies (or ''WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas'') are played on the TV, the guys go to check out how sexy/slutty the women's costumes are, and songs like "[[Music/MichaelJackson Thriller]]", "Somebody's Watching Me", the Monster Mash, and the ''Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}'' theme come on at least once during the night. These events may run the chance of turning into the WildTeenParty, although oftentimes, they are held at bars and similar establishments that can deal with rowdiness better than the parents of a teenager. In places with a lot of countryside, Halloween parties traditionally involve bonfires and activities like {{snipe hunt}}s.

And finally, with so much controversy over its pagan history, what do actual pagans think about it? Celtic pagans (of both the [[UsefulNotes/NeoPaganism neo-pagan]] and reconstructionist variety) consider the season to be a holy time of year, and make offerings to the gods and the ancestors. A fair number of UsefulNotes/{{Wicca}}ns, however, feel that the modern, Western incarnation of the holiday is offensive -- they see it as promoting old stereotypes and caricatures of "{{wicked witch}}es" that serve to make people suspicious and fearful of real-life pagans and witches. (The ''Series/BostonLegal'' episode "Witches of Mass Destruction" featured conservative Christians and hardline Wiccans [[EnemyMine teaming up against Halloween]].)

The roots of what we now know as Halloween are descended from two holidays: the Catholic celebration of All Saints' Day, and the Celtic pagan festival of Samhain (pronounced "sah-win"). "Halloween" is short for All Hallows' Eve, meaning the eve (or evening) before All Saints' Day. Originally, in the seventh century, it was celebrated in May or April, right after Easter. A few centuries later, All Saints' Day was shifted to November, a change that originated in Germany before spreading through the Roman Catholic world. The Orthodox churches continue to celebrate it in April, as did the Irish for a time, for reasons that will be described below.

Samhain, meanwhile, marked the last harvest, the end of foraging for livestock, and the beginning of winter in Celtic pagan culture. (Some folklorists have also claimed Samhain to be the Celtic New Year.) Celtic mythology also held it to be the day when the barrier between the mortal and spirit realms grew thin; anybody who knows anything about Halloween knows where this is going. This was why the Irish continued celebrating All Saints' Day in April years after their fellow Catholics had changed the date, as they wanted to keep the holiday free from associations with Samhain. Clearly, it hasn't worked, as most of the popular iconography surrounding Halloween is borrowed from Samhain rather than All Saints' Day. The jack-o'-lantern, for instance, was meant to ward off evil spirits and [[TheFairFolk fae]][[note]]Though some have associated it instead with All Saints' Day, claiming that they represent Christian souls in purgatory.[[/note]], as was the tradition of dressing up in costume (or "guising"). The revival of Celtic culture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries only deepened interest in Samhain, contributing to its transformation into the modern holiday of Halloween.

Nevertheless, works of fiction (and [[CowboyBebopAtHisComputer allegedly fact-based news reports]] about the feast) have been known to overstate the influence of Samhain on Halloween.

Halloween was imported to the US and Canada in the 19th century, a time that saw substantial [[TheIrishDiaspora Irish]] and Scottish migration to the New World. Back in this time, Halloween in North America was more of a celebration of Irish and Scottish heritage than anything else, much like Columbus Day is for Italian Americans. It was celebrated with large feasts, apple bobbing, and divination games, as well as pranks and mischief. By the turn of the century, the "pranks and mischief" had become the defining feature of Halloween, turning it into a night of vandalism. As a result, the Boy Scouts and neighborhood groups started working to turn Halloween back into a safe celebration, organizing trick-or-treating events based around the old practice of "guising" to redirect the focus of the festivities away from violence. With Halloween now becoming a popular celebration outside of Welsh, Irish and Scottish neighborhoods, retailers seized upon a brilliant opportunity to have a new holiday to commercialize. While there was some commercialization going on before (mass-produced costumes were appearing in [[TheGreatDepression the 1930s]]), it really took off after UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, and it hasn't stopped since.

Today, Halloween is considered a major holiday in the US, Canada, Mexico (where it has a more Catholic bent, as it falls right before the ''Día de los Muertos'' celebrations), and the British Isles (where it is more strongly influenced by the older traditions, particularly in Ireland, Scotland, Northern England and Wales). It has also caught on in mainland Europe, India, the Philippines, and Japan through exposure to American media.

It's that part about American media that often creates the most criticism of Halloween outside North America and the British Isles. France, for instance, has long been resistant to celebrating the holiday, seeing it as a form of American cultural imperialism, and celebrations are largely limited to the expat communities. The Australians are more accepting, especially in recent years (it helps that many Australians claim Irish or Scottish ancestry), but it is highly controversial for the same reasons that it is in France; a typical sight in newspapers around October is articles railing against the holiday and the "creeping Americanism" it represents (especially given that, in Australia, October marks the beginning of ''spring'').

* '''Costumes:''' One of the standout features of the holiday. The Halloween costume has traditionally been some form of [[OurMonstersAreDifferent monster]] -- popular choices include [[OurGhostsAreDifferent ghosts]] (particularly of the [[BedsheetGhost bedsheet]] variety), [[DemBones skeletons]], [[WickedWitch witches]], [[OurDemonsAreDifferent demons]], [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampires]], [[OurZombiesAreDifferent zombies]], and [[SlasherMovie masked slashers]]. Big rubber masks are often a component, as is [[KensingtonGore fake blood]]. Other popular (and less scary or supernatural) choices include [[EmergencyServices police officers, firefighters]], {{pirate}}s, soldiers, doctors, [[NaughtyNurseOutfit nurses]], animals, [[EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses princesses]], [[HalloweenCosplay TV and movie characters]], Presidential candidates in election years[[note]]Election Day in the US falls no more than eight days after Halloween, meaning that the holiday occurs at the climax of the campaign. In fact, [[http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1856094_1856096_1856106,00.html connections have been made]] between the candidate who sells the most masks and the one who wins the election. [[NixonMask Masks of]] UsefulNotes/RichardNixon, of course, are also a perennial favorite.[[/note]], and costumes that parody the year's events, often in [[GallowsHumor a macabre and deliberately provocative fashion]] (such as a celebrity who died recently, or a victim of a recent disaster). Historically, costumes based on [[NationalStereotypingTropes ethnic groups and stereotypes]] (particularly UsefulNotes/NativeAmericans) were popular, and many stores still carry them, but [[ValuesDissonance these days]], going out in such a costume is as likely to [[BerserkButton get you an earful]] as it is to get you a compliment.\\

A popular {{urban legend|s}} claims that there exists [[http://www.snopes.com/holidays/halloween/haunted.asp a haunted attraction]] somewhere in the country that is so scary, it offers cash rewards or full refunds to anybody who can complete it -- and of course, nobody ever succeeds. To the best of our knowledge, such a place does not exist, though as described above, people have tried their damnedest to come close. Direct contact with the guests can easily cause an accident that can lead to a lawsuit, which is why, usually, the performers stop ''just'' short of doing this. In recent years, there has been a wave of "extreme" houses where guests are physically restrained and even abused, but such houses require guests to sign waivers clearing them of any liability -- and they don't give refunds. Some of the most famous/notorious examples include [[http://downtowntraveler.com/2014/10/22/review-what-to-expect-at-blackout-haunted-house-in-new-york-city-halloween-2014/ Blackout]] in New York and [[http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/oct/30/extreme-haunted-house-masochists-mckamey-manor McKamey Manor]] in San Diego, which are designed to simulate the experience of being in a TorturePorn film. For some time now, [[Ride/UniversalStudios Universal Orlando]] has been trying to create such a house for Theatre/HalloweenHorrorNights, but every time, it's been [[WhatCouldHaveBeen derailed]] due to concern over injuries and lawsuits. The furthest such plans have ever gotten was [[http://www.horrornightnightmares.com/forums/index.php/topic/2660-severe-fear-hhn-13-2003 the "Severe Fear" house in 2003]] that was scrapped at the very last minute.

* '''Haunted attractions:''' Starting in late September, {{amusement park}}s go on a massive Halloween splurge, giving all of their attractions a horror theme, dressing the employees in spooky costumes and makeup, and putting up most of the aforementioned decorations. It helps that, north of the snow line, most amusement parks close for the winter at the start of November, making Halloween their last hurrah for the year. This practice died down for a couple of years after September 11th due to the perception that it was TooSoon to be glamorizing death and horror, but has since kicked back in with a vengeance. Some parks, such as the Ride/UniversalStudios parks in Hollywood and Orlando, are famous for [[Theatre/HalloweenHorrorNights their big-budget Halloween attractions]], which draw in millions of visitors from across America and beyond.\\

And finally, with so much controversy over its pagan history, what do actual pagans think about it? Celtic pagans (of both the [[UsefulNotes/NeoPaganism neo-pagan]] and reconstructionist variety) consider the season to be a holy time of year, and make offerings to the gods and the ancestors. A fair number of UsefulNotes/{{Wicca}}ns, however, feel that the modern, Western incarnation of the holiday is offensive -- they see it as promoting old stereotypes and caricatures of "{{wicked witch}}es" that serve to make people suspicious and fearful of real-life pagans and witches. (An episode of ''Series/BostonLegal'' featured conservative Christians and hardline Wiccans [[EnemyMine teaming up against Halloween]].)

And finally, with so much controversy over its pagan history, what do actual pagans think about it? Celtic pagans (of both the [[UsefulNotes/NeoPaganism neo-pagan]] and reconstructionist variety) consider the season to be a holy time of year, and make offerings to the gods and the ancestors. A fair number of UsefulNotes/{{Wicca}}ns, however, feel that the modern, Western incarnation of the holiday is offensive -- they see it as promoting old stereotypes and caricatures of "{{wicked witch}}es" that serve to make people suspicious and fearful of real-life pagans and witches.

Some conservative Christians, however, feel that Halloween trivializes and celebrates the occult and is incompatible with the Christian faith. They point to its Celtic pagan connections, [[UsefulNotes/{{Wicca}} which they feel to be Satanic]]. There have been many religious challenges to and protests against the celebration of Halloween over the years, particularly in the "[[AmericanChurches Bible Belt]]" region of [[DeepSouth the South]] and [[DownOnTheFarm the rural Midwest]]. A recent tradition among conservative Christians has been to hold "Halloween alternative parties" in which people dress up as Biblical characters, and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell_house "Hell houses"]] as TheMoralSubstitute to regular Halloween attractions. At Hell houses, the attendees are shown scenes meant to portray the decadence of secular culture, finally ending in a room that represents either {{heaven}}, which is the reward for not behaving in the manner just witnessed, or {{hell}}, occupied by {{Satan}}, who claims that all of the characters they had seen (who usually reappear here) are now firmly in his grasp. Afterwards, in order to get out, the attendees must agree to be "saved" (become born-again Christians) or traverse the length of the building. In some cases, the Hell house is marketed as a normal haunted house, thus making it a BaitAndSwitch in which unwitting attendees don't realize that they're going to a fire-and-brimstone sermon until they're already through the door.

TV channels, particularly cable channels, run marathons of horror films for weeks, from [[UniversalHorror the old]] [[Film/HammerHorror classics]] (''Film/{{Dracula|1931}}'', ''Film/{{Frankenstein|1931}}'', ''Film/{{The Wolf Man|1941}}'') to modern ones (''Franchise/FridayThe13th'', ''Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet'', ''Film/TheExorcist'', ''Film/DawnOfTheDead'', ''Franchise/{{Scream}}'', and of course, ''Franchise/{{Halloween}}''), as well as shows like ''Series/TheAddamsFamily'' and ''Series/TheTwilightZone''. For kids and those not in the mood to be scared, ''WesternAnimation/ItsTheGreatPumpkinCharlieBrown'' is usually on the air somewhere, as are other {{Halloween special}}s both classic and modern. Most [[LongRunners long-running]] TV shows do at least one HalloweenEpisode during their run; among the most famous Halloween episodes are ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''[='=] annual "WesternAnimation/TreehouseOfHorror" anthology episodes.

* '''Parties:''' As noted under AmericanHolidays, Americans will never resist the temptation to go out and party. After trick-or-treating ends, kids and their parents usually go to their friends' houses to bob for apples, search for candy in the backyard, tell spooky stories, and compare their respective hauls for the night. Pumpkin pie may be served. Teenagers and young adults, meanwhile, often have parties of their own. Horror movies (or ''WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas'') are played on the TV, the guys go to check out how sexy/slutty the women's costumes are, and songs like "[[Music/MichaelJackson Thriller]]", "Somebody's Watching Me", the Monster Mash, and the ''Film/{{Ghostbusters}}'' theme come on at least once during the night. These events may run the chance of turning into the WildTeenParty, although oftentimes, they are held at bars and similar establishments that can deal with rowdiness better than the parents of a teenager. In places with a lot of countryside, Halloween parties traditionally involve bonfires and activities like {{snipe hunt}}s.

And finally, with so much controversy over its pagan history, what do actual pagans think about it? Celtic pagans (of both the [[UsefulNotes/NeoPaganism neo-pagan]] and reconstructionist variety) consider the season to be a holy time of year, and make offerings to the gods and the ancestors. A fair number of UsefulNotes/{{Wicca}}ns, however, feel that the modern, Western incarnation of the holiday is offensive -- they see it as promoting old stereotypes and caricatures of "{{wicked witch}}es" that serve to make people suspicious and fearful of real-life pagans and witches.