The Great American Halloween: A Peek Behind the Pumpkin Curtain

Ah, Halloween! That wonderfully eerie, sugar-fueled holiday that manages, year after year, to charm its way into the hearts of so many Americans. You could say it’s more than just a date on the calendar; it’s a full-blown cultural moment, a chance to shed our everyday skins for something a little — or a lot — more fantastical. And honestly, it seems like a hefty chunk of us are still absolutely all-in for the spooky season, even with, you know, everything else going on.

A recent poll, from the fine folks at The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, has pulled back the curtain on our collective Halloween psyche. And the findings? Well, they pretty much confirm what we suspected: this holiday isn’t going anywhere. Nearly seven in ten Americans, if you can believe it, are planning to dive headfirst into the festivities this year. That's a significant slice of the pie, isn’t it?

Now, who exactly are these enthusiastic celebrants? Unsurprisingly, it’s often those with little goblins and ghoulies running around the house. Parents with children under 18? They’re practically leading the charge, with a whopping 85% of them eager to partake. It makes perfect sense, of course; Halloween, in its purest form, is often seen through the wide-eyed wonder of a child clutching a plastic pumpkin.

But what does 'celebrating' actually look like for most of us? It’s a delightful mix, really. The venerable tradition of giving out candy still reigns supreme, with more than half of us (56%) ready to dole out sugary treats. And, truly, what is Halloween without a perfectly decorated porch, or perhaps an entire yard transformed into a haunted spectacle? Nearly half of Americans (49%) are reaching for the spiderwebs and jack-o'-lanterns, getting their homes ready for the big night. Costumes, naturally, remain a huge draw, with 43% planning to don some sort of disguise. For the younger set, and those who still feel young at heart, trick-or-treating is on the agenda for about 30%, while a quarter of us are either hosting or attending a good old-fashioned costume party. It’s quite the spread of activities, you see.

And here’s where things get a bit interesting, perhaps a little more human. We live in, let’s be frank, economically uncertain times. Inflation, for many, is a very real, very nagging concern. The poll reflects this, showing that 44% of Americans are “very or extremely concerned” about how rising costs might pinch their wallets, especially when it comes to holiday spending. You might think, then, that this would put a serious damper on the spooky spirit. But here’s the rub, isn’t it? Only a small fraction — just 12% — say they’ll actually scale back their Halloween celebrations because of it. It’s almost as if some traditions, some moments of joy, are simply non-negotiable, even when the budget feels a bit tighter. Folks might get a little more creative with their costumes, maybe buy candy in bulk, but the spirit, it seems, remains undeterred.

Breaking it down further, we see some generational nuances too. Younger adults, those under 45, seem a bit more inclined to go all out, throwing or attending parties and slipping into those elaborate costumes. Older adults, well, they’re still in the game, but perhaps in a slightly more subdued, nostalgic way. They're probably the ones handing out the candy, maybe admiring the decorations, enjoying the atmosphere without necessarily needing to be the life of the monster mash. It’s all part of the beautiful, diverse tapestry that is American Halloween, isn't it? A bit of something for everyone, and a whole lot of enduring fun.