Halloween is a widely celebrated tradition in the United States, with around 70 percent of Americans planning to participate in Halloween celebrations in 2023. In 2020 and 2021 planned participation fell noticeably, likely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Halloween is celebrated in the United States in various ways, with trick-or-treating and pumpkin carving being two of the most popular Halloween activities.
This is Halloween
Halloween is celebrated around the world on October 31. Given the spooky themes of the event, it is also a popular time of year for horror and slasher movies, with many movies of this genre released in time for the Halloween season. Many believe that the origins of Halloween date back to the ancient Gaelic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of summer and the harvest season as well as the beginning of winter. It is a time of year often associated with death, as some people believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead become blurred. They celebrated this night as they believed it would ensure people and their livestock would survive the harsh and cold winter.
Halloween in the United States
Halloween generates a substantial amount of money for the U.S. economy, as Americans spend significant sums over the Halloween season. In 2023, U.S. consumers planned to spend an overall total of more than 12 billion U.S. dollars on Halloween. The majority of consumers’ money goes towards the purchase of costumes, decorations, and candy.
FAQs
In 2023, more than 70 percent of consumers in the United States said they intended to celebrate Halloween. Some of the most common ways to honor the holiday in the United States included decorating one's home, carving out pumpkins, and wearing scary costumes.
How popular is Halloween in the US? ›
Spooky season is here, and it's back in a big way. About 73% of Americans are planning to celebrate Halloween this year, the highest level in the 18 years that the National Retail Federation has conducted its annual survey, and well above the pandemic slump of 58% in 2020.
How much did Americans spend on Halloween in 2023? ›
Even amid economic uncertainty, money won't stop flowing. People around the world spend plenty on Halloween, but the holiday's economic impact in the US is staggering. Across the US, the National Retail Foundation (NRF) expects 2023's Halloween spending to hit a record $12.2bn, exceeding last year's record of $10.6bn.
How many Americans don't celebrate Halloween? ›
Survey finds a quarter of Americans will not celebrate Halloween this year. CLARKSBURG, W.Va. – A recent survey from TopCashback.com reported that only 71 percent of Americans plan to celebrate Halloween this year, among other interesting findings.
Why did Halloween become so popular in America? ›
The custom of trick-or-treating, in which children dress up in costume and solicit treats from neighbors, became popular in the United States in the early 20th century as Irish and Scottish communities revived the Old World custom of “guising,” in which a person would dress in costume and tell a joke, recite a poem, or ...
What is the #1 Halloween town in the USA? ›
Salem, MA. If you're not sure where to go for Halloween, look no further than Salem! The infamous setting for the Witch Trials of 1692 has a reputation for being full of supernatural oddities.
What state is Halloween most popular? ›
According to these criteria, New Hampshire ranks at the top of the most festive states to celebrate Halloween. This northeastern Halloween HQ has both the most Spirit Halloween shops per capita (16) and the most pumpkin patches (29).
Is Halloween getting less popular? ›
Halloween is a widely celebrated tradition in the United States, with around 70 percent of Americans planning to participate in Halloween celebrations in 2023. In 2020 and 2021 planned participation fell noticeably, likely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Are less kids celebrating Halloween? ›
Three-fourths say fewer trick-or-treaters came in 2023
Echoing observations about a decline in trick-or-treating: an admittedly unscientific USA TODAY online poll found about three-fourths (74%) of more than 17,000 respondents said they had fewer trick-or-treaters come to their home this year.
How popular is trick-or-treating? ›
Children in the prime trick-or-treat years — 5 to 14 — have been declining steadily as a percentage of the nation's population. As of the 2020 Census, the figure had dipped below 15%. In 1970, it was 21%.
While there is no Biblical response to Halloween specifically, the Bible does have a lot to say about death, darkness, and evil.
Who invented Halloween? ›
Halloween had its origins in the festival of Samhain among the Celts of ancient Britain and Ireland. On the day corresponding to November 1 on contemporary calendars, the new year was believed to begin.
Is Halloween a big thing in America? ›
Spread to North America
It was not until after mass Irish and Scottish immigration in the 19th century that Halloween became a major holiday in America. Most American Halloween traditions were inherited from the Irish and Scots, though "In Cajun areas, a nocturnal Mass was said in cemeteries on Halloween night.
Is Halloween the largest consumer holiday in the United States? ›
Although Halloween is a major seasonal event celebrated each and every year, it is far from the most costly consumer spending event. In terms of average per capita spend, events such as the back-to-class period and the winter holiday season are more likely to haunt shoppers in the United States.
How many Americans spend on Halloween? ›
Halloween Spending
Almost 70% of consumers in the United States participated in Halloween celebrations with candy, decorations, and candy in 2022, spending $10.6 billion. Those numbers are expected to increase to over $12 billion for 2023, with consumers spending: $4.1 billion for costumes. $3.6 billion for candy.
What percentage of Americans decorate for Halloween? ›
National Trends in Halloween Home Decoration
According to our national poll of homeowners, Halloween is a big deal. Eighty-two percent of homeowners are decorating this year and two in three homeowners decorate every year without fail.
