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Here in America, the land of copious consumption, there exists a month long Halloween themed marketing push. This is well known (and beloved) by many Americans. We have special candy packaging, temporary Halloween themed stores, made-up haunted houses, and more.

I am wondering if any of this consumer activity takes place in other countries around the globe.

Wow I would like to hear about this too. Halloween is my very favorite holiday, and fall is my favorite season. Does anyone know the true beginnings of Halloween, not the comercialized version. Though I wouldn't mind knowing how that started as well.

The celebration of Halloween (Hallowed Evening) in America began when the Irish immigrants started pouring into the US in the 19th century. All Hallows Eve is the day before All Souls Day, a holy day in the Roman Catholic Church, the religion of most of the Irish. They introduced the Jack O'Lantern, originally a gourd,and the house to house quest for goodies. Originally "trick or treat" ment just that; give up the goodies or we will do something to your property. For obvious reasons the trick part died out. Since Halloween is also a pagan festival there is most likely a relationship to the ancient Celtic religion of the Irish. Dressing up as ghosts and witches and devils they roamed the streets at night.
Over the last two decades there has been a shift to renaming Halloween to a harvest festival by some Americans who believed it was really a pagan conspiracy and Satanic in nature.

Hmm...I've never thought of the commercial end of Halloween. Probably because buying a costume and a couple bags of candy isn't nearly as financially taxing as buying gifts for your entire family (Christmas).

This is kind of interesting this subject should pop up, as I looked at the calendar today and saw Halloween is on a Sunday this year. I brought up the idea of some form of religious disapproval as well.

Anyway...I don't really care about religious issues. It's fun for the kids (and kids at heart) to be something different for a little while and get some free candy to boot.

Maybe this question would be more simple to answer, Do any other countries do trick or treating?

When I was a teen-ager I did my share of "tricking" though, treats were less interesting. Things like throwing shelled corn at cars, soaping windows, smashing pumpkins, and throwing rolls of toilet paper into trees which makes long white streamers. I remember some stores would even have special sales on toilet paper and soap for this!!

Yes Halloween is known in other countries too, even in a far away one like Malta.

Shops have Halloween items, Halloween parties get organised, some dress up too, and I heard that in certain places trick or treat is done as well.

I'd rather have a month long marketing pitch for Halloween than the 3month on they have for Christmas...

Actually, I think Halloween gets swallowed up by Thanksgiving, and Thanksgiving by Christmas.... Would be curious to know how other countries market Halloween.

Halloween is not a tradition in Australia. However of late shops have been promoting it over here. I don't think trick or treating is happening though, and I think that's mainly due to concerns for children's welfare. It seems to be mostly an excuse for dress-up parties and the like.

Personally I find the whole idea of Halloween annoying. It's not our tradition, we shouldn't necessarily embrace it. We don't do Thanksgiving, or Guy Fawkes Night, why should we do this one? Quite aside from which with the whole season reversal thing the original significance of the pagan festival of Samhain is completely wasted. I also don't have kids so am not a part of their excitement at doing the dressing up and begging for lollies thing. *shrugs*

Just my 2 cents worth.

Thank you for sharing. That is the kind of information I am curious about.

Well, I don't mind to celebrate events that are originally of other countries. On the other part I don't celebrate many of the feasts that get celebrated in my country. First of all, many of them are religious and I am not, second, I don't see why I have to like a feast simply because it's traditional. I remember when I was a child I used to see Halloween celebrated on the American TV Serieses only, and I was envoius because at those times it wasn't known here.

when I was a kid I loved halloween because my father and I would spend time together making home made costumes. we didnt ever have the money to buy costumes. so a month or so before halloween we would decide what to make and then begin the month long project. It always was a good time and gave me something to lool forward to.

there actually is an up side to the commercialism.

when churches get all pissy about halloween, the commercialism overrules them.
also when i was a kid, halloween was really only thought about for about two weeks. i enjoy doing it for a month, decorating the house, and such.

and recall...people only sell stuff when there is an interest.
shows the holiday is gaining in popularity!
~W~

you knw I never have taken much time to think about the commercialized side of it. I agree I really like the idea of preparing for a month. I love baking stuff and getting the kids excited. I like the parties, there is a lot to be said about getting together with friends. You know if they can start bringing christmas stuff out in early October then Halloween stuff should come out the first of September.

Lord wolf, I liked your point about the fact that the commercial power of Halloween overshadows any Christian protest of it. In this country the dollar is the most powerful "god", LOL. Besides the commercialism of Easter is just the same. And nobody ever complains about that.

When I was a kid, we called these two , "candy holidays". One in the fall represents death and the darkness. And the other in the spring celebrates rebirth and return of light. It's a really old story.