Like Foolestroupe, I grew up without Halloween; celebrated All Hallows' Eve and All Saints' Day though, at church. Experienced the US version in SC and was fascinated by the conformity of various neighbourhoods and variability of others in their choices of decoration, displayed at Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thought it had passed me by until I saw this thread and, reading it, realised I've just purchased Poe's Complete Tales and Poems. How appropriate!