There are a few holidays each year that attract near-ubiquitous participation -- think New Years Eve and the like -- but there's one such day that's especially strange: Halloween. The last day of each October is 24 hours dedicated to monsters, ghosts, and other scares... and lots of candy and peculiar costumes, too. As children, of course, Halloween takes on an extra-special dimension, but as we get older, so too does the holiday change around us. One minute you're shoving Reese's Pieces into your pillowcase; the next minute you're hunting down your neighbor's kids with eggs and shaving cream. Such is the case in western societies around the world as autumn begins to set in. So let's recollect our fondest memories of this bizarre holiday that's one part pagan, one part modern. Just make sure to check your apples for razor blades before you take a bite...

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