Things One Should Know About Halloween

Halloween is once again upon us, with more spending than last year, in spite of the pandemic. Last year 2021, Americans spent a total of $10.1 billion on Halloween. This year it is projected that expenditures by this same group of Americans will exceed $1.6 billion. It is anticipated that “people will resume related activities associated with Halloween at pre-pandemic levels with 69% of consumers planning to celebrate the holiday this year, up from 65% in 2021 and comparable to 68% in 2019,” according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). Here are some of the reasons for the increase in cost. The cost of candy has increased this year by more than 13.1% over September of last year.

This year consumers are expected to spend $3.6 billion on costumes; $3.1 billion on candy; $3.4 billion for decorations; and $0.6 billion for greeting cards. This will equate to $100.00 per individual or families celebrating the occasion.

Moxy people are not aware of the history of Halloween or the fact that the observance was brought to America by the Irish during the Potato Famine of 1840. From about 1930 until Mickey Mouse had a Halloween celebration in the 1950s, it had been an occasion for pranks or tricks on the people if they didn’t have treats. Disney’s Mickey Mouse Halloween celebration through animation was responsible for the growth and takeoff of the celebrations today.

But the history is not as much fun as the observance has become. The history is a mixture of the Catholic Church’s observance of All Saint’s Day and All Souls Day, to be celebrated on November 1st. That date was considered a “Holy” day. The evening before became known as “All Hallow’s” Eve. This original celebration dates back more than 2,000 years to the Druids and the time of harvest.

Eventually, the idea surfaced that the spirits of the dead came out the evening before “The Day of the Dead” and sought bodies to inhabit the night before. The idea of the pumpkin was to carve a face and put a candle in the pumpkin, it the pumpkin placed in one's window or door. This told passing spirits that the dwelling was already inhabited and, therefore, the spirits would move on to look for another place.

To those of the Catholic faith, in Mexico, the celebration adopted elements of the Aztec culture and radiation and was added to the Day of the Dead or “Dia de Muertos,” a time honoring those who have passed on. What has now become a three-day celebration is a time for family gatherings for prayers and remembrances of the dead.

The other side of this story is that in many Protestant faiths, Halloween is seen as a Satanic event. The celebration of witches and demons is forbidden in the Bible. The conclusion of the matter is one should know and understand that which once celebrates.