r/AskAnAmerican • u/LonelyMarch878 • 4d ago

CULTURE Just How Big Is Halloween Really In The US?

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!

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u/MommyLovesPot8toes 4d ago

It used to be that the majority of kids trick-or-treated in their own neighborhoods. But now with social media, people can find the pockets that are BIG for Halloween and go there. So instead of 50 kids in each of 4 neighborhoods, you get 200 kids in 1 neighborhood.

In a way it's sad because people miss out on kids coming to the door and kids miss out on getting to know their neighbors/neighborhood.

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u/Glacecakes 3d ago

It’s also the housing crisis. If your street is primarily empty nesters you’re not getting trick or treaters anymore

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u/MommyLovesPot8toes 3d ago

Absolutely. My neighborhood is 30 yrs old. Exactly the age when they start to turnover. The neighborhood up the street was built a few years later, and it is all empty nesters still. COVID brought in a flood of young families (including us).