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Halloween is a tradition with Celtic and Pagan origins, but it has well and truly arrived in Australia — why?
Whether
it is Aussies' love of parties or the challenge of dressing up, it is
not just children in Australia enjoying the sweet treats this Halloween.One business owner has noticed this year, people of all ages are donning spooky costumes and taking part.
"It's not only just the kids it's the adults having a go as well," Michael Soames from the Base-House Warehouse said.
The party shop at Alexandria in Sydney's inner-east has had a slew of customers buying Halloween decorations.
"I think it's certainly escalated the range in this store, [it] just keeps getting bigger and bigger every year as demands asks for different things," Mr Soames said.
Cob webs, pumpkin buckets and toy weapons have all been big sellers this year, he added.
It's all a bit of fun
Photo:
Michael Soames says businesses, schools and even the elderly are getting in the spirit. (ABC News: Stephanie Corsetti)
Mr Soames said he believed Halloween was being embraced because it was a community event that any neighbourhood, business or school could be part of.
"You get a lot of people doing dress-up themes for businesses," Mr Soames said.
"A lot of the schools get on board with things these days.
"I know a lot of older people now are taking up the vogue and dressing up tombstones and figurines in the front yard.
"I think Australians just like to have a party sometimes."Chris Raynor, who runs website Halloween Australia, said she was addicted to the holiday.
"We usually get told our decorations are the some of the best in Mosman," she said.
"You can get disparaging comments from some people, but it's all just fun."
Ms Raynor defended Australians who may be criticised for participating in Halloween-themed events.
"It's not just the US — it's also the UK, so it's not an issue of people blindly copying America."
'There is no use fighting it anymore'
Photo:
Demand at costume and party stores sky rockets in the lead up to Halloween. (ABC News: Stephanie Corsetti)
Other New South Wales residents said they had been shocked by the rise of Halloween in Australia, after having lived overseas and returning home.
Andrea Martinez of Erskineville returned from Papua and was not expecting the new prevalence of Halloween.
"When we came back we were quite surprised at how popular it was just in the last couple of years," she said.
Merridy Eastman of Newtown lived in Europe for some time, and upon coming back realised Halloween was not just a fleeting trend down under.
"I left in 2003 and came back in 2009 and the difference was extraordinary," she said.
"It's big in the eastern suburbs, it's big in the inner-west so it's here to stay. There is no use fighting it anymore."
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