> As far as I'm aware, the tradition came to
> the US via impoverished Irish immigrants and
> indentured servants.
I dunno the history of Halloween in Ireland but it's a much more enjoyable holiday in America than it is here. Here it's mainly an excuse for young delinquents to scare the bejesus (or bejaysus, to give it its local pronunciation) out of everyone with illegal fireworks ... oh and burn the odd immigrant's shop down.