Last August I shared my surprise that Halloween decorations and supplies were already in local stores. It is only July, but apparently Halloween is coming earlier this year. At least the preparations.

On Wednesday I saw this storefront across the street. A new store featuring all things Halloween is about to open. If you can’t wait, they have a website – though it wasn’t operational when I tried to visit it.

When I was a child I loved Halloween. People would give me free candy, what was not to love? Having to come up with a costume each year wasn’t something I cared much about, but I suffered through it because the reward was worth it. Even if all I really liked was the chocolate bars.

As an adult my views have changed. And it isn’t just because I have a better understanding of the spiritual aspect of the “holiday.” Well, perhaps to some extent.

The spiriual aspect is, I am sure, far from the minds of the majority of the people who celebrate Halloween. They want to dress up and have fun, and perhaps spit, metaphorically, in the face of death. I can understand that.

What I do find disturbing though is the idea of sending young children door to door to beg candy from strangers. Aren’t children warned not to take gifts from those they don’t know? Why is such behavior acceptable only one night of the year? Doesn’t it promote greed? (It sure did with me.)

What do you think about Halloween? Is it something that deserves all the hype? Has it lost touch with its roots and just become a moneymaker for retailers struggling to fill the gap between back-to-school sales and Thanksgiving (which in Canada comes before Halloween, not after like it does in the US.)

You can put your thoughts in the comments section.

As for me, I probably won’t bother to enter the store when it does open. I’m not their target audience. Then again, if they are handing out free candy I may reconsider.