Halloween is a major commercial holiday often associated with the USA. But the global costume, confectionary and film industries really have us to thank for the annual upswing in profits this time of year brings them.
While many countries and cultures around the world celebrate some version of All Saints/Day of the Dead, much of modern America's Halloween festivities stem from the Celtic harvest holiday of Samhain.
Hollywood often fails to join the dots between Halloween and "Sam-hayne", but if it wasn't for Irish and Scottish immigrants bringing ancient traditions across the Atlantic, there'd be no Hocus Pocus, Halloweentown or Michael Myers.
