ABSTRACT
HALLOWEEN Halloween, despite its origins in European tradition, is a thoroughly Americanized holiday. The celebration of became increasingly popular in the United States in the last century and a half, as the ethnic traditions, beliefs, and celebrations of several groups merged to form a cohesive, yet ever-evolving, national holiday. After shedding its religious and superstitious roots, the secularized celebration of Halloween has remained popular because of its elements of escapism, its appeal to children, and its commercial value to merchants and retailers.
