Ten Interesting Things About Halloween in America

Eat, drink and be scary. 
~Author Unknown

According to polls, Halloween is my third favorite holiday (behind Christmas and Thanksgiving).   Here's everything you need to know about it!

1.       Halloween comes from a pagan harvest festival in Ireland called Samhain, which honored the dead.  October 31st,  the Celts believed the dark half of the year began and treats were left out to pacify evil spirits.

2.       This year Americans will spend almost $7.5 billion on Halloween—including $2 billion on candy, $2.5 billion on costumes, and $350 million on costumes for their pets.

3.       About two-thirds of Americans who celebrate will buy a costume, and the average person will spend about $75 on Halloween.   Also, Americans will spend more on adult costumes ($1.4 billion) than on kid costumes ($1.1 billion).

4.       Amazon’s top 5 selling costumes this year are:  1. Elsa, 2. Seattle Seahawk, 3. Waldo, 4. Olaf, and 5. A ninja

5.       Americans’ top 5 Halloween candies (in terms of sales) are:  1.  Reese’s ($509 million), 2.  M&M’s  ($500 million), 3.  Snickers ($456 million), 4. Hershey’s ($324 million), 5. Kit Kat ($306 million).

6.    Over 90% of American parents admit to stealing Halloween candy from their kids.

7.       Americans’ top 5 horror movies (in terms of gross totals) are:  1.  The Sixth Sense ($293 million), 2.  Jaws ($260 million), 3.  The Exorcist ($233 million), 4. What Lies Beneath ($155 million), and 5. The Blair Witch Project ($140 million). 

8.       Horror movies may be the best genre for beating a franchise to death:  Evil Dead (4), Exorcist (5), Final Destination (5), Friday the 13th (12), Halloween (10), The Mummy (4), Nightmare on Elm Street (9), The Omen (4), Paranormal Activity (5), Psycho (4), Resident Evil (5), Saw (7), Scream (4), Texas Chainsaw Massacre (7), Underworld (4)

9.       According to Billboard, my top 5 Halloween songs are:  1.  Thriller, 2.  Monster Mash, 3. Ghostbusters, 4. Werewolves of London,  and 5. Highway to H***.

10.   Jack-o-lanterns were originally made out of turnips or potatoes, but when Irish immigrants got to me, they switched to pumpkins.  Americans will spend over $150 million on pumpkins (twice what they did in 2001).  And the largest pumpkin ever grown was a 2,058 pounder by John Hawkley of Napa just this year.

So, get your jack-o-lantern carved, suit up--if that's your thing--and stay safe.  Halloween is right around the corner!

Comments or questions?  Shoot me an email at DiaryOfAmerica@gmail.com