According to Moneyland, we Americans are going to collectively spend just a little less than seven billion dollars on Halloween this year. In 2005, planned spending for Halloween was just north of three billion dollars. These figures are courtesy of a survey conducted by the National Retail Federation. Even accounting for inflation, it seems obvious that we, as a country, are addicted to Halloween.
Interestingly, the most money is planned for purchasing Halloween costumes. Two and a half billion dollars worth, in fact.
That’s a lot of sexy sanitation workers and sexy nurses and sexy real estate agents. And sexy pizza delivery guys. Seriously, if this dude showed up to trick or treat at my door, he would be getting the big candy bar, honey.
Just to show we’re not skimping on the Snickers, we also plan to spend about two billion dollars on candy that is specifically to be given to trick-or-treaters, and slightly less than two billion dollars on Halloween decorations.
When we think about decorations, we very often trope towards the cutesy. Nothing with fangs, or blood, or icky spiders or bats. Smiling happy faces, bright orange hues. These are the sorts of Halloween decorations one can find at Walgreens or CVS, aimed at people who watch “Halloweentown” on the Disney Channel every year. No disrespect to the complex multi-talents of Miss Debbie Reynolds, star of the franchise, but it is kind of twee, no?
Some people really get into the idea of the season, celebrating the gruesome circle of life and death, taking old Halloween legends and remixing them to create something new, inspiring, and possibly terrifying.
Shown here is a fairly massive piece named “Tim and Tom.” This scarifying work of art is the winner of a local Halloween outdoor sculpture contest. The idea of the Halloween goblin, a very scary creature, is executed (hey, there’s a good Halloween word) as a two-headed forest demon, eating smaller goblins. Very very super scary, indeed.
A trend that’s been gaining steam over the last decade for Halloween decorations was originated by Martha Stewart. Her concept is an icy glamor, a nod to a time of year when the harvest is finished and preparations for winter are made. Note the use of white pumpkins, branches painted black, a minimally decorated door wreath. The orange pumpkins, stacked and carved, are more architectural than terrifying.
Which direction would you care to go? Are you leaning towards simple elegance? Twee smiley faces? Sexy vixen? Angel or devil?
Are you planning on doing anything at all for Halloween this year?
