I agree with some of your reasons for disliking Halloween. the crass commercialism, the incredible over-indulgence in crap food. and im right there with you on samhain. back when holidays had meaning and purpose!

but i still love halloween, the energy, the excitement, the over the top frenzy of ghoulish decor, the celebration of life and death in the same breath, the imagination behind the costumes, that cold dark night with wispy clouds and bright harvest moon - the colors, the taste of apples, the smell of bonfires, the flicker of faces in the half light.

I would love to bring back the old traditions surrounding the holiday. i love the sentiment you speak of, bringing people together, communicating, connecting. altogether a fabulous reminder of why we celebrate.