“This is Halloween, this is Halloween” is a phrase that we hear more than a thousand times during October. Who knew that this small one-day holiday captivated by monsters, blood and scary things could bring a billion-dollar industry to America each year? Spooky, isn’t it? From movies down to dressing a one-year-old up as a pumpkin, let’s. see why and how Halloween is so important, not only to us, but to the American economy.
“I want to eat your brains”
Hopefully, you’re not on an empty stomach or this might not be the best article for you. Not only is Halloween the season of the witch but also the season of creativity. For those of us who like turning sandwiches into sand witches, Halloween is the season for you. Making fake eyeballs with white gumballs, red icing and black gummies seems like something straight from a nightmare, but that’s what this season is about. Each year out of the 12.2 billion dollars Americans spend on Halloween 65 percent of that comes from people buying candies and food. Although Halloween doesn’t have any staple foods it does have staple themes. Green icing, red punch and anything with fangs screams Halloween. Although Halloween brings children happiness and the inner child out in adults, what does it do for the economy? Halloween has a positive effect on the GDP and leads to more job growth. Now you can enjoy your googly eyeball soup and candy corn knowing you might have just helped jump-start a whole economy.
“Angel or Barbie?”
Costumes: If I could be anyone or anything what would you be? This is the question that rings in everyone’s mind during the Halloween season. From dressing up as your favorite rockstar to your favorite pop star, Halloween is the night to bring out your best interpretation. It’s the only time of the year you can see an adult and dog dressed up as the same thing. Halloween costumes have a spooky past; the first costumes date back to ancient Rome and people would wear animal skins, skulls and skirts. Just like everything else, humans evolved.
The whole purpose of pre-modern Halloween costumes was to disguise the person wearing the costume, which is completely different from what it is today. Today, the most popular costumes sold don’t cover the face at all. Within the 12.2 billion dollars spent on Halloween this year, almost 30 percent is spent on costumes. You dressing as Barbie and not forgetting your Ken might leave your pockets with cobwebs but in the grand scream of things, you’re supporting the second biggest retail event America experiences each year.
“Jeepers Creepers”
Get your popcorn ready, not to eat but to throw it in the air– while watching Huluween and seeing spiders crawl up your TV on Disney Plus. Streaming services have joined in on the gory fun. During Halloween streaming services like Hulu have noted a rise in subscription users’ usage and a boost in how many people subscribe to their platform. Lots of retail companies and food businesses take advantage of this time of year. For example, Chipotle offers a Boorito and Disney Plus offers a code off of Disney Halloween apparel and home decor. Not only does Halloween put a benevolent spell on the U.S. Economy but also its industries.
“Spooktastic media”
Social media: Lastly, let’s talk about social media. For this whole week on TikTok, I saw nothing but posts for Halloweekend and “boo baskets.”(period inside quotations) Then on Instagram today, my page was flooded with what celebrities wore this weekend. Each year, social media increases the availability and awareness around holidays. Don’t know what you want for Christmas? I bet TikTok can figure it out.
Although social media sometimes makes us zombies, sometimes it can make us mad scientists. Social media, contrary to popular belief, is not the resident evil always. It can help us decide on multiple things: costumes, foods, candies and overall inspiration for decorating the house. Therefore social media doesn’t just contribute to a small part of Halloween but possibly the grand scream of things. Without social media, the U.S. economy wouldn’t be as spooktastic.
Halloween is a season filled with many scares, jumps and screams. It is also filled with an unexpected economic boost, positive money trends and more jobs. Now that’ll make you jump, jump for joy.
