| Halloween arrives on October 31st every year, and | | | | Halloween decorations, party supplies, and other |
| with it comes excitement for all. There are the parties, | | | | Halloween themed merchandise. Although it's difficult to |
| the decorations, the festivities, the laughs, and of | | | | pin down exact sales figures regarding this holiday, it is |
| course the costumes. Whether you view Halloween | | | | conservatively estimated by some analysts that |
| as scary or humorous, or maybe a bit of both, we can | | | | Halloween may eventually catch up to Christmas in |
| all agree that it is an enjoyable holiday. Popularity and | | | | terms of dollars spent annually. Past estimates have |
| participation seems to swell each year. Initially a holiday | | | | been as high as five billion dollars for recent Halloween |
| for children only, Halloween has become the holiday | | | | seasons which would still rank it behind other gift giving |
| for everyone. Adults spend more time and more | | | | holidays like Mother's Day and Father's Day, as well as |
| money each year preparing for this big day. As a | | | | religious holidays like Easter. As for future growth, the |
| matter of fact, Halloween is quickly becoming an | | | | buzz with Halloween, especially with the adult |
| acceptable holiday season versus just a one day | | | | consumers, is the spending itself. |
| activity. Halloween has surged in popularity holding its | | | | Store-bought decorations in particular can be |
| own right up there with Christmas. With all the hustle | | | | expensive. Some Halloween retailers even go as far |
| and bustle of party preparation, costume construction, | | | | as selling full size coffins and animatronic, robot-like, |
| and decorating, the question arises regarding | | | | life-sized figures. These realistic props can cost |
| Halloween being declared a national holiday. Halloween | | | | hundreds and even thousands of US dollars. Combine |
| is a day of fun and the closure of federal and state | | | | this type of Halloween enthusiasm with national |
| buildings, businesses, offices, and schools may not be | | | | costume sales and the numbers can add up very |
| such a bad idea. | | | | quickly and continue to grow even in a slowing |
| Halloween is traced back to a ritual of honoring the | | | | economy. This commercial explosion is a far cry from |
| dead over 2000 years ago. Initially called All Hallows | | | | decades gone by where local retailers would carry a |
| Eve, it falls on the final day of the celtic calendar which | | | | few select cookie-cutter boxed costumes, some |
| is, of course, October 31st. This is also the eve of All | | | | Halloween themed candy, and some plastic pumpkins |
| Saints Day which is a Christian holiday honoring the | | | | to carry the loot. The only thing lacking at this point in |
| saints. Over the centuries, there were many traditions | | | | time would be some type of large scale gift |
| revolving around All Hallows Eve. These Halloween | | | | exchanging tradition which is the common denominator |
| traditions varied greatly among the many cultures that | | | | in driving retail sales during the holidays. |
| celebrated it. The tradition of gift giving is a spinoff | | | | Overall, the possibility of Halloween being proclaimed a |
| from the Celts who believed the souls of dead people | | | | national holiday is still only a pipe dream for Halloween |
| roamed the streets at night. Many of the souls and | | | | enthusiasts. At the time of this writing, there has been |
| spirits were thought to be unfriendly, the gifts and | | | | no formal request made and my research concluded |
| treats were left outside to pacify those that were evil, | | | | that no organization has taken the initiative to even |
| grant health for people in their family, and ensure next | | | | begin the process. Commercial success is alone not |
| year's crops would be abundant. This custom | | | | enough to earn national holiday status. Halloween |
| eventually evolved into today's trick-or-treating from | | | | appears as though it may remain nothing more than a |
| door to door involving children dressed as ghosts and | | | | fun-filled day (or night) for both children and adults |
| goblins eagerly awaiting the treats from the doorstep. | | | | wishing to celebrate this centuries-old tradition in their |
| From a commercial standpoint, the USA far exceeds | | | | own way. |
| any other nation in sales of Halloween costumes, | | | | |