In October, shop windows and store fronts tend to sport pumpkins, witches, skeletons and more, but some parents are alarmed at the graphic nature of Halloween displays and merchandise.

Celebrating Halloween is already somewhat of a hot topic in Australia, with many uninterested in the holiday and repulsed by the decades long commercial chokehold it has had in the United States.

Even though many Aussies lock their gates and turn away trick-or-treaters on October 31, it is undeniable that the holiday has taken root among both children, who get dressed up in the hope of a stacked bag of lollies, and adults, who might take their fangs to the bars.

In the lead up to the big day, retailers deck out displays with orange, black and purple, and often some more grisly characters, like the grim re

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