Halloween Day is being observed today in the West

31 October, 2012

Halloween Day is being observed in many western countries today, one day ahead of All Saints Day. Some Christians consider Halloween Day has no religious importance and it is merely a pagan event. On this day adults have fun by holding horror costume parties and many children go trick-or-treating from house to house.

IN RECENT years, market forces have been promoting Halloween Day in a big way. Consequently, many business ventures organise Halloween-themed get-togethers and also sell cards and artifacts centered around the theme. Tourism industry organises ghost tours, trick-or-treat adventures, hunts and horror walks on this day. On this day, children either receive a treat or present a trick to their neighbors or relatives.

At many places, retail businesses sell or rent out costumes and other Halloween-themed items and decorations. Homes and public places are decorated to fit the Halloween theme. Decorations include fake cobwebs, jack-o-lanterns and images of black-yellow cats or witches. Cinema theatres hold special screenings of horror movies and films with a supernatural theme.

Common Halloween symbols are black cats, bats, spiders, ghost figures, skeletons, witches and wizards. Also, pumpkin carving, graveyards, cobwebs, haunted houses are also associated with Halloween. Popular Halloween colours are black, grey, green, and orange.

Markets get flooded in the West with Halloween symbols for decorating homes and party venues. These symbols can also be seen on theme party costumes, wrappers, cards, cookies, cakes and candies.