Boo ... Hoo

Halloween is nigh, and while the American custom is catching on in Europe, not everyone thinks it's a great idea. A small but vocal group -- including clerics, politicians, cops and just plain folk -- are urging their fellow Europeans to reject Halloween, which they say 1.) promotes crass American commercialism 2.) has no basis in European culture 3.) gives thugs a reason to vandalize and 4.) takes away from All Saints' Day on Nov. 1. But it's big business -- Germans spent a reported $170 million on Halloween costumes and decorations last year -- so if it's going to die, it'll die hard. Because the European's dirty little secret is that he's as crassly commercial and venal as we are.
-- Tony Long