Halloween lost its original purpose in our culture about the same time it lost the apostrophe, but it has become something far better in our culture these days. Far from the celebration of the dead, Halloween is now a pseudo-competitive social event where people are free to act in ways they would not normally: Dressing in odd clothing, begging from strangers, wandering around at night, playing pranks, etc. As demonstrated numerous times in pop culture (Sigmund and the Seamonsters, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, etc.) it's the one time of year when weird is accepted as normal and fits in, and as such, it actually creates a form of tolerance education that kids are more than willing to join in.

holloween, hallow's eve, the eve of all saints, samhain, what ever you call it, pagan and christian alike celebrate it as the night when our world is "closest" to the "world of the dead".

To me, Halloween is the celebration of the Supernatural and Fear as well as overcoming your fears as well as honoring the Dead. It means staring Death in the face and saying, "I'm not afraid." Halloween means so much more to me than that but that's what I think it's become.

Giving out large sized candy bars to the children and watching the expression of joy on their faces.

Halloween is just a fun day for me. I like to give out large size candy bars to the kids and watch the joy on their faces.

A cynical celebration of consumerism.