Question: What is the origin of the holiday moneymakers? I mean I know the real reason for major holidays.  Like christmas birth of Christ.  But why the Santa Clause, and Easter Bunny and Pumpkins and haloween?

Answer: Each of these representations of a primitive religious time have evolved to the market entities of today.  Society seems to need an icon to highlight celebrations.  These make excellent marketing tools.  See web sites listed.
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