Turn on the television and all you'll seem to hear is bad news. In terms of economic conditions, the United States, Europe, and the rest of the world haven't seen such a downturn in decades. Problems with the world economy stem from corrupt bank officials, crooked, scandalous politicians, growing unemployment rates, unrest over energy prices, and world peace or a lack thereof. Certainly there are many other reasons contributing to the world's economic struggle and it appears we won't see total resolution and financial utopia any time in the near future. Holidays have become totally and whole-heartedly commercialized. Christmas is the holiday that first comes to mind when it comes to spending money and Halloween actually happens to be the second most commercially successful holiday in the annual roster.

Can we speak of Christmas and Halloween in the same sentence? With regards to spending your hard-earned dollars is it very possible to speak of them together. Christmas, a religious holiday, has obviously evolved tremendously since its inception. Halloween has experienced very similar changes. At Christmas, we buy gifts for family and friends, at Halloween we treat strangers, mostly children, to free candy and goodies. At Christmas we decorate our homes with beautiful religious decorations as well as with many other holiday-themed items. At Halloween we do the same for our homes, only we dazzle and delight the neighborhood with creppy, crawly decor. At Christmas we spend a little extra for some special clothing, maybe an outfit we wouldn't normally wear except on special occasions, but at Halloween we buy costumes so family and friends might not even recognize us. The two holidays have one thing in common however, and that is spending money. Both Christmas and Halloween can be costly annual events to consumers.

Comparing Christmas and Halloween during a struggling economy raises many questions. Can the average household afford to spend as much as they did last year? Do we really need more decorations? Can we eliminate some gifts? With tighter budgets taking hold everywhere, Halloween appears to be the first holiday to be affected. Christmas, by far the largest commercial holiday of the year, encompasses family gatherings and religious celebration. It is a time of the year that everyone can enjoy regardless of religious background. It is a complete holiday season with generations of traditions and family get-togethers. Halloween however, is a holiday of fun. A spooky night of scary decor and costumes. Children sing songs, eat candy, and investigate local haunted houses and seasonal attractions. Adults also take time to enjoy parties dressed in costumes, masks, and makeup. Obviously, the budget for Halloween has much more room for adjustment.

Halloween costumes can be store-bought or home-made. A great costume really doesn't need to cost much, and we've all got at least some creativity inside. Decorations don't always have to be manufactured in a factory, some of the scariest decor on public display each year is also home-made. Annual budgets for households celebrating Halloween can easily be manipulated without compromising the holiday itself. The problem is that retailers of Halloween goodies, tricks, treats, scary decor, and costumes may feel the pinch when the Halloween season comes to a close. A struggling economy won't shut down Halloween, but I think it's safe to say it may not flourish commercially as it has in the recent past.