Unlike other western countries, Australia does not consider Halloween a national holiday. Banks and other offices are open on Nov 1, but a growing number of young Australians are following their counterparts in the U.S. by going on Trick or Treat.

A lot of older Australians such as writer Van Badham refuse to enjoy this November holiday. When kids approach buildings to knock on doors and ask for candies and chocolates, although he silently admire those young people, he pretends no one is home when someone knocks.

"For people like my mother, it's deliberate rejection of the kind of U.S. imperialism that suckered her generation not into witches hats and candy, but Australian participation in the Vietnam war," The Washington Post quoted Mr Badham.

Every year that Halloween time comes, the question is raised why Australia does not celebrate this holiday. Although many historians credit the Celtic-speaking residents of the British Isles to have started the tradition, in the 17th and 18th centuries, British settlers brought along this tradition.

YouTube/Erik Foo

However, in the latter half of the 19th century, Britain moved toward social conservatism called, leading to the Victorian era which frowned on superstitions and garish costumes associated with Halloween.

It was about the same time that the Brits were stamping out Halloween when the colonisers reached the Land Down Under and migrated to Australia and New Zealand.

It should be noted that two former British colonies, Hong Kong and Singapore, observe Halloween because they were still under the British empire when Victorianism ended by around 1900, while Australia had long cut their ties with UK then.

But what Victorianism succeeded is being slowly changed by the American culture which many young Aussies are embracing, including the traditional Trick or Treat.

Meanwhile, one male high school student in Illinois, Chicago, was kicked out of his classroom at Highland Park High School. Angenetta Frison, mother of senior student Marshon Sanders, said the lad was not allowed to attend school because of his Halloween costume that appear to be like Jesus Christ.

Mr Sanders was garbed in a white robe, red sash, white head scare and wore a crown of thorns and cross necklace which teachers found to be offensive.

However, the student was eventually allowed to attend his classes after higher school officials confirmed Mr Sanders did not intend to show disrespect to the Christian faith with his costume.

A check with YouTube postings showed that Jesus and other biblical character costumes are available in a growing number of costume stores such as this one.

YouTube/costumes888

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