Halloween, Hallowe’en, Allhalloween, Allhallowtide, All Hallow’s Eve, All Saints’ Eve: whatever you call it, people from the USA are projected, “… to spend a combined total of three and a half billion U.S. dollars on trick-or-treat candy for the Halloween season. Americans were planning to spend the most on spooky costumes and decorations namely about 3.8 billion U.S. dollars in total or just under 34 U.S. dollars per person. In 2024, more than 70 percent of individuals surveyed in the United States said they planned to celebrate Halloween and/or participate in Halloween activities. This is a noteworthy increase in participation compared to Halloween 2020, a period that was severely affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Interestingly, 2023 and 2024’s participation figures were higher than pre-COVID-19 figures” (https://www.statista.com/statistics/275736/annual-halloween-expenditure-in-the-us-by-item/). For many, Halloween festivities are a big deal.
In my family, we were allowed to dress up in non-scary costumes to get candy from neighbors on Halloween, but we weren’t allowed to have decorations in our house. My guess is because our parents saw Halloween as a demonic holiday. When my daughter was little, though, we went all out: pumpkin carving, story-telling, dressing up, giving and getting treats, watching mildly spooky movies together, making a special spooky meal together. I’ve never enjoyed haunted houses, creepy things that leap out at me, especially don’t like it when the actors touch me! And, my imagination is much too strong to enjoy the Halloween series or Scream or similar films. But, it’s tradition to watch Hocus Pocus, Frankenweenie, and Practical Magic in my home.
Let’s have some fun! Please participate in the discussion by answering these questions and sharing with other readers:
Are you planning to celebrate the first or three days of Allhallowtide, AKA Halloween? How will you celebrate? Or, do you hide in the back of the house with the lights off to avoid it?
As a child, were you allowed to participate in Halloween activities? Did you go trick or treating? As an adult, do you shun participation in or join in Halloween festivities?
Why do you think so many adults enjoy this spooky season?
If you aren’t from the USA, do you celebrate this holiday? How do you participate in Halloween?
Have a fun, safe, Happy Halloween / Spooky Season! Please share your thoughts, insights, and suggestions by either commenting below this post if you are reading this on social media, or, if you are reading this through your email subscription, please share, by emailing me, at reimaginelife22@gmail.com.
Thank you for reading and participating in this blog essay; I invite you to subscribe to my blog at www.reimaginelifecoach.com.
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