Here in Mexico City we have also noticed an ineacrse in Halloween imagery over the years, and this year it seems to have really jumped up a big notch. But there also seems to be some kind of merging of the two themes, Halloween and Day of the Dead, into one long (3-4 days) holiday, the characteristics of which are whatever anyone wants them to be. Children want to collect candy and coins, young people want to have theme parties, and older folks enjoy grumbling about how it's not like the old days. Something for everyone!