U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for Oct. 31

      

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090226/CENSUSLOGO)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31: HALLOWEEN

Profile America -- Saturday, October 31st. Beware -- it's Halloween or more properly, all Hallow's Eve, the day before the Feast of All Saints. According to Celtic tradition, it's a time when witches, ghosts and other unsavory characters walk the earth for a day. For years, Halloween was eagerly awaited by youngsters, who would dress up in whatever was handy and make the rounds of the neighborhood, begging for candy with the empty threat "trick or treat!" Now, more formal parties are being held, and grownups are just as apt to wear a costume as children. Fads come and go, the but the Jack-o'-Lantern, made from a real pumpkin, remains popular. U.S. farmers grow just over a billion pounds of pumpkins a year. Illinois is by far the leading producer, followed by California, Pennsylvania, and New York. Profile America is in its 13th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2009, p. 529

U.S. Census Bureau, Facts for Features, CB09-FF.19

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look under the "Newsroom" button).

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau