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Halloween in America: From the Eighties to the Present
Halloween celebrations in America probably took off in the eighties, after a slew of "splatter films" and the general acknowledgement that there's nothing intrinsically or ideologically wrong with the celebration.
Scary thrills
In the past, the Halloween season was thought to be a time for strange rituals and such. But today, it's simply a time for people young and old to have some scary fun. The kids especially look forward to Halloween, as they are without a doubt the main consumers of the season.
Some of the most common attractions that adults come up with during the Halloween season are haunted houses. Some charitable establishments put up and promote haunted houses during the season, where kids can go in and get spooked -- and enjoy themselves, too.
Child psychology
But the timeless questions remain -- is it really okay for kids to get scared, especially during such a time as Halloween? Child psychology would agree. It's been found that when children reach a certain age, they'll be able to tell which things are real and which aren't.
This is the main reason why kids love Halloween so much. When they know their friends and family are simply dressing up for the occasion, they can go ahead and enjoy getting scared.
A twelve-year-old boy's appreciation of what's scary is different from a five-year old boy's appreciation. A thirty-year-old man will have a different perspective of vampires and potentially dangerous aliens than a fifteen-year-old boy's.
Where People Spend Halloween
Halloween is a time to meet up with friends and family. The following are common gathering places during Halloween in North America:
- Temporary haunted houses
- City parks
- Haunted barns
- Ghostly gambols
- Movie theaters
As mentioned earlier, charitable institutions began the process of introducing younger children and teenagers to the prospect of wandering through horror-filled houses. However, by the 1990's, companies began moving in for a different kind of thrill: profit.
By the turn of the century, there were already over 2,000 haunted houses in North America. During the Halloween season, these houses could thrill the public for three weeks or so.
The developing trends in Halloween also poses a few new challenges for entrepreneurs looking to cash into the season. For instance, how do you scare kids and teenagers who aren't scared of the usual Hollywood Halloween movies anymore?
The answer was by bringing the scares closer to home. For instance, while children have gotten used to the usual vampires and witches, they were still scared by the plain-looking stranger who could actually be a crazy person out for blood.
This is just an example of how Halloween stays scary throughout the years. And it's not only for the kids -- it's something adults can enjoy, as well.
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