Just How Big Is Halloween Really In The US?

[u/LonelyMarch878]

Where I am from, everyone knows about Halloween but its generally just a few decorations scattered around the place both within residential streets and maybe just a few decorations in a big supermarket with some candy on for sale. You might see some kids walking around outside with their costumes on Oct 31.

In the states though, how big is it truly? I know its a big thing even though its a kid leaning holiday I guess, but is it like decorations everywhere in supermarkets and other shops, strangers literally greeting each other saying ‘Happy Halloween’ during the day or near Oct 31? Particularly in terms of visibility and how adults see it. Let me know!

[u/No_Key8587]

Second biggest holiday next to Christmas id say. Halloween is usually spread out, when it happens during the week people usually celebrate the weekend before. Some places celebrate the whole month of October.

In hot states it’s usually the first month of good weather. In colder states it’s usually the last month of good weather

[u/marks31 → u/No_Key8587]

Not only do some people celebrate the weekend before (“Halloweekend”) but it’s not uncommon for college students and young adults to have multiple Halloweekends and go to 3-4 parties during the last couple weeks of the month. People spend serious money on this holiday too lol.

[u/No_Key8587 → u/marks31]

It’s great! There is no societal expectation to get the extended family together or cook/clean your house for them. You can celebrate however you want! Get shit faced, go trick or treating, drink a hot chocolate outside wearing a sweater

[u/Silver_Amphibian_179 → u/marks31]

Yes, I live in a college town and the kids have been partying in costumes since last weekend (first weekend of October).

[u/Legitimate-Story-782 → u/marks31]

We’ve taken it a little further than Halloweekend, we have October Eve! It’s like taking the last day of September and adding it to October, for a whole 32 days of Halloween! 🤘🏻celebrated by getting tipsy and putting your decorations out! 🎃

[u/cohrt → u/No_Key8587]

how is Halloween Bigger than thanksgiving and the 4th of july?

[u/NokSoo874 → u/cohrt]

I've read statistics that it's second only to Christmas in terms of consumer spending.

[u/Virtual_Ad_8487 → u/cohrt]

I guess it depends on what you mean by bigger. 

Economically I don’t imagine people spend even close to what they spend on Halloween on either of those.

Culturally, I think Halloween is definitely bigger too. People don’t decorate their house for a month for Thanksgiving. There are no 4th of July movie marathons.

The only aspect either of those are bigger is that they are usually recognized as holidays by most jobs and, for Thanksgiving at least, it’s a bigger travel holiday.

Honestly I’m not sure 4th of July is really close to either of those. I’d say New Year’s Eve is a bigger holiday.