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Halloween, the fall holiday and $13.5 billion industry , lurks around the corner.

But what's behind the more than 11,000 acres of pumpkin patches (4,450 hectares) across Canada and $3.9 billion in consumer spending on candy alone?

Halloween has ancient origins in the pre-Christian religion and practices of the Celts. It was customary to honor the transitions between the seasons and harvest, acknowledge the thin veil between different planes of existence and also to commemorate the dead.

Modern-day commercialization has shifted how people experience Halloween, but the spirits of the dead continue to play a significant role in the occasion and the time of year.

The day's appeal and its marketability extend beyond a one-day "holiday." Many people are drawn to carefully curated encounters, seeking thrilling yet sanitized experiences that allow them to engage with the macabre and mortality from a safe distance.

Consequently, Halloween's commercial success in commodifying…