In days of old, the sight of houses covered in over-the-top light decorations, miles and miles of yard displays and extravagant spending on treats and sweets meant only one thing: Christmas was near.
Not anymore. Now, the celebration begins two months earlier, in October, for Halloween.
The holiday that once meant just quaint trick-or-treating, a costume contest or two and maybe a bob for an apple is now second only to Christmas when it comes to celebrating, according to a survey from the National Retail Federation.
Nearly 69 percent of Americans say they intend to celebrate the holiday this Monday, Oct. 31, the highest amount in the survey's nine-year history.
Nearly half of those celebrating will decorate their homes and-or yard, and each will spend an average $72.31 on decorations, costumes and candy, a figure second only to the amount spent by individuals on Christmas décor.
Need more proof that Santa Claus and Rudolph have ghosts and goblins close on their heels?
Check out this Riverside, Calif., home whose owners have strung thousands of lights to create a sea of singing pumpkin faces, tombstones and hand-carved pumpkins for trick-or-treaters', and passing cars', delight.
There's no sounds of "Silent Night" or even "Jingle Bells" here, however. This Halloween light show is set to the tunes of the LMFAO hit pop song "Party Rock Anthem."
The same house was decked out last year in the same lights but tuned to what could be considered more of the Halloween version of a Christmas jingle: "Thriller," by Michael Jackson.
Do you go all out for Halloween? Can your house top even this Halloween light display?
Then send us your photos to prove it! Click here to submit photos of the lights, hanging skeletons, pumpkins, goblins and ghosts making your home a Halloween trick, or treat.
We'll feature our favorite photos here on GMA.Yahoo.com in the days ahead.
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