Halloween is just around the corner, and after a dip in festivity participation caused by the pandemic, 73% of Americans are planning to participate in the holiday this year, according to a report published on Statista by industry experts.
Last year, nearly half of Americans surveyed dressed in costumes. Among them was Anthony Chan, 11, of Chicago. “Halloween lets me express myself because I get to dress up as whatever I want,” he said.
For Josiah, 5, of Chicago, that means dressing up as a superhero. “My favorite part is when mommy gets me a Spider-Man costume,” he said.
While Chan and Josiah both love the expressive side of Halloween, nothing can stop most children from loving the sugary rush of adrenaline they get while going door to door. According to a study published by D. Tighe on Statista, nearly two thirds of households handed out candy last year, which Chan and Josiah appreciated.
“The candy is the best part of Halloween,” Chan said.
“Trick-or-treating is fun,” Josiah agreed. “I go with my mommy, and we get the candy from the buckets in front of the houses.”
Though many teens have aged out of trick-or-treating, some still feel nostalgic about the Halloweens of their childhood.
“It used to make me excited as a child,” said Valerie Maldonado, 17, of Chicago. “I loved to be able to go out dressed up and see what all the other kids dressed up as. Everyone always had cool costumes.”
Some adults rediscover the fun of dressing up for Halloween. “I used to never care about what I used to dress for Halloween,” said Pedro Cabrera Romero, 20, of Guerrero, Mexico. But then he met someone and his attitude changed. “Now that I’m in a relationship, most of my costumes are duo costumes that are unique and that we both love.”
While costumes and candy are the primary attractions of Halloween, some people find more serious themes in the holiday—and hope that others will discover them, too.
“Ghosts are most definitely real,” said Aaliyah Mitchell, 20, of Chicago. “I feel like people who don’t believe in them are very questionable, but maybe one will sneak up on them one day.”
Additional reporting by Enrique Gonzaga, Breanna McCrary, Brooklyn Servin and Greer Stewart.
Be First to Comment