Christmas had better watch its back.

Halloween is creeping up on the December holiday in popularity and consumer spending, according to recent retail surveys. And the customs surrounding the ghoulish day are not just for little ones anymore.

Adult participation in Halloween is at an all-time high in the United States, with big kids dressing up as their favorite characters and partying into the wee hours like never before [Most Popular Costumes for 2006].

In an ironic twist, however, while more adults are getting into the act this year, some U.S. schools are putting the kibosh on Halloween celebrations altogether for the sake of political correctness.

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