Kids going around collecting candy, and no mention at all of honoring your ancestors. The Mexicans do it with style, but they seem to have similar traditions to those in, say, Italy. Why is America different?
I know this isn't very academic. From personal experience, comparing Ireland to the United States in terms of Halloween is pretty much the same. Heavily commercialized, fire work displays, public events are held in the city, adults go out drinking and partying, however children going "trick or treating" around the neighbourhood is rather uncommon in Ireland. The religious side of the event is very much gone in Ireland.