The great commercial colossus that is America's way of celebrating holidays has rolled over those who object to Halloween -- as a frivolous waste of time, for teaching kids paganism, as an affront to America's dental hygiene, whatever.

Halloween has been taken out of the hands of children and enshrined as part of the national economy. Trick-or-treat has become all treat for retailers.

Commercially, Halloween now generates $2.4 billion in sales, trailing only Christmas. More candy is sold than on Valentine's Day and more parties held than on New Year's Eve. Two-thirds of all grownups will celebrate Halloween in some fashion or other and half of them will spend more than $100 doing so. We will send each other 28 million Halloween cards.

Society's deep thinkers have been struggling to define What It All Means. Why have Americans elevated a minor religious observance, the eve of All Saints Day, which has roots among the Druids, into a giant national costume party? Is it an unhealthy fascination with the macabre? A national cry for new identity? Atavistic superstition?

And what does it mean that three of the most popular masks people buy to scare their friends are representations of ex-Presidents Nixon, Reagan and Kennedy?

We'll go out on a limb here. Maybe, just maybe, the costumes, parties, candy and other assorted nonsense are simply fun. We like a good time.

Happy Halloween, and -- oh, yes -- Boo!