Why is Halloween a Holiday in America?

Question

but not in England? What significance does it have to America?

Answer 1

Halloween is a really big deal here in New York. It's not so much the day but the whole month. Most people decorate, go to costume parties, watch horror movies, etc. Some businesses and civic organizations create haunted houses and haunted trails. On Oct 31, New York has a giant Halloween Parade. Halloween is just a fun time of year. We love it.

Answer 2

It has no national significance. It 's not an official holiday, nor a federal holiday at all. Just a day for kids and some young people to dress up and have fun and go trick or treating. Everyone works or goes to school like any other day. Many people here in America don't even celebrate Halloween.
When our kids moved out, so did Halloween.

Answer 3

All Hallows' Eve was a traditional time of celebration that was brought to American by the Irish.
But it's not a holiday, no schools or business's close, it lasts only 2-4 hours, unless you want to count the few pumpkin patches that farmers have the next 3 weekends.
Halloween is fun for the children, they like to dress up as something different, they like going out at night to do the trick or treating in the neighborhood, or the parties at a friends house.
Fun is a good thing, don't you agree?

Answer 4

It's not really a Holiday, there is no day off work.
It is just another scheme for the merchants to sell costumes candy and such.
Very few kids in my neighborhood even trick or treat anymore.
They are afraid to be out on the street at night when it is dark.
It used to be fun when everyone knew their neighbors and were all dressed up in costumes and ran around door to door and try to see who could get the most candy. Not anymore. Some parents don't send their kids out because they don't want them to have the candy. I know there are a lot of Halloween party's for adults, but that is just an excuse to put on a costume and go out and drink.
In Mexico it is the Day of the Dead, a remembrance for those who have passed on. and they do consider it a type of religious holiday.

Answer 5

Halloween is actually celebrated in many countries, not just America. This link tells how each country celebrates Halloween and has a section on how those who observe Halloween in England celebrate it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween

Answer 6

Not a government sanctioned holiday.
Actually it’s origin is Celtic, an appeasement of the haunting dead to protect the harvest. Trick or treat is a catholic tradition. A day of generosity for the lords to treat the servants.
Perhaps the reason we in the US give it so much attention is the fault of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Author of “Sleepy Hollow“.
Secularist resent it because of it’s perceived religious connotations.
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Answer 7

I really don't know. For me as a kid it ment a time to dress up and get candy. A time to hide behind the persona of another person.

Right now....seems a money thing. The houses in my neighborhood are decorated way past Christmas.....yet we have very few "trick or treaters". Seriously.....I'm waiting on a news article for pics of the best Halloween decorations. No real reason either......just who decorates the best.

Answer 8

Money, money, money, people spend money during that time.
Its not really a holiday, but business people figured out how to make money from it, so now its the 2nd biggest 'holiday' of the year, with Christmas being #1. And like Christmas, its not just one day, its for weeks.

Answer 9

It's not a real holiday. It's just a day of fun and a day for retailers to push candy and costumes. (More fun if you make your own.) I believe it dates back to colonial times here in America. All Hallows Eve. Search for those keywords.

Answer 10

It is not an official holiday. It is call "big business." You have to buy the candy, the costume, the food, the decorations etc. I think Catholics celebrate All Hallows Eve or something. It only meant getting free candy to me. lol