Has the UK caught with the US in ‘ celebrating Halloween ?

Halloween only became a big thing here in the UK after the movie ET. Before that we made costumes from binbags and made paper masks and played bob apple.
All the Halloween decs only really became widespread here when ASDA became part of the Walmart family and sold decs in their stores.

Deffo couldn't get pumpkins easily then! I remember carving a swede with my dad!! Took forever!!

We went trick or treating once as teenagers, probably about 1979. We had to explain it to most people, and got told to clear off by several. What was more traditional was playing tricks on houses. Knick knocking, fireworks in gardens, known as mischief night in some parts. I live in Scotland now and guising is a long standing Halloween tradition. Very similar to trick or treating, but the guisers usually tell a joke or sing a song.

Halloween seems so innocent but you are inviting darkness and evil in with all that stuff. I do like pumpkin carving though and sweets for kids. I will tell you all about Jesus and how awesome he is.

I was a kid in the 1950's in North America. In those days, we knew our neighbours. So it was a neighbourhood activity for the kids. The costumes were homemade. A common treat were apples and some households gave out camelized apples. It was a big excuse to load up on candy and visit your neighbours.

Like you I started working for a USA company in the early 90s. I remember a trip to CT that fell over halloween. Driving into the downtown area after work the streets were full of kids and people.

In my road it's never approached that yet but it's definitely more of a thing now. We use to do apple bobbing and a few things like that. Trick or Treat I never heard of until Charlie Brown picked up and then it exploded with ET as the typically UK celebration of Guy Fawkes night (let's burn a catholic everyone!) lost its place in the country's culture.

What is more traditionally done in the UK for Halloween.

In Canada trick or treating of school age children has been normal all my life. Costume parties and gathering in homes and public with and without costumes. Traditionally a lot of sugar is consumed. That’s been standard all my life.

Halloween is huge here and in proper family neighborhoods kids still go door to door. Easter Sunday is HUGE in some regions of the country. Easter Sunday is celebrated with my family like Christmas or Thanksgiving would be.

I spend $700-1k each year on candy for trick or treaters. I usually decorate and get costumes as well.
altogether id say I spend about the same as Christmas on Halloween

Thanks for the current info!

I do not believe in it or celebrate it
Sorry

In France Toussaints is a jour ferié (public holiday).
It has caught the American infection !

It's not even close to the level of popularity it is in the States.

Commercialism and marketing at its finest! 🤣🤣🤣