Every October, Americans spend billions of dollars on Halloween costumes, decorations, and candy. In fact, Halloween has become one of the most popular holidays in the United States, with Americans spending an average of $86 per person on Halloween-related purchases. So how did Halloween become such a big business? Let’s take a look at the history of this spooktacular holiday.
Halloween has its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. Samhain was a time when people would light bonfires and dress up in costumes to ward off evil spirits. Over time, Samhain evolved into what we now know as Halloween.
In the 1950s, however, Halloween took on a more commercialized approach. Retailers began selling mass-produced costumes, decorations, and candy. And by the 1980s, Halloween had become the second-most commercialized holiday in America, behind only Christmas.
Today, Americans spend billions of dollars on Halloween every year. In 2019, Americans were expected to spend a record-breaking $9 billion on Halloween costumes alone. And it’s not just adults who are spending money on Halloween; more and more parents are shelling out big bucks to make sure their kids have a memorable (and Instagrammable) Halloween experience.
Halloween has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a pagan festival designed to ward off evil spirits. Today, it is a major commercial Holiday where Americans spend billions of dollars on costumes, decorations, and candy. So whether you’re dressing up as your favorite celebrity or haunted house this year, remember that you’re taking part in a centuries-old tradition—and helping to boost the economy at the same time! Happy Halloweening!
