Last updated on July 15th, 2023
47. In 2022, the money spent on Halloween candy in the US was a scary $3.1 billion – an all time high!
48. The survey conducted by the National Retail Federation also found that 148 million consumers planned to celebrate the holiday in 2020. Nearly half wanted to decorate their homes and carve pumpkins.
49. In 1958, the White House was decorated for Halloween for the first time. Mamie Eisenhower decorated the dining room and foyer with jack o’lanterns, flower arrangements, twinkle lights, owls, black cats, goblins, and witch heads.
50. On the 31st October 2013, Stephen Clarke of the USA carved a pumpkin in a world record-setting time of 16.47 seconds. This was his third time setting the record – he previously held the record at 54.72 and 24.03 seconds.
51. Pop culture has had a tremendous impact on Halloween over the years. Gothic novels and horror films have defined our modern monsters. The top adult costumes for 2020 were witch, vampire, ghost, cat, and Batman.
52. Horror and scary movies are especially popular around Halloween, and made over $700 million at the US box office in 2022.
53. The 1962 song “Monster Mash” was banned by the BBC in the UK because it was too morbid. However, when it was re-released in 1973, the Halloween favorite became a “graveyard smash hit”.
54. The 1978 classic horror film “Halloween” is well-known for the iconic face mask worn by Michael Myers. This famous mask was purchased for just $2 and spraypainted and reshaped to look super creepy.
55. Disney’s 1993 movie Hocus Pocus was originally going to be called Halloween House. It was meant to be scary rather than funny.
56. The 2017 movie “It” is the most successful horror film ever made. The Stephen King classic grossed over $700 million worldwide.
57. Halloween sales indicate the health of the retail sector heading into the holidays. Although Black Friday officially kicks off Christmas shopping season, about 39% of shopper actually start before November.
58. The three most popular treats given away by households include chocolate bars, chocolate candies, and chewy candies. Many will also hand out gums, corn candies, and salty snacks. Lucky children may even get toys.
59. Candy wasn’t the original fare of Halloween and trick-or-treaters used to get anything from coins, nuts, and fruit to toys and cake. In the 1950s, candy companies saw an opportunity to get into the market, starting the tradition of Halloween candy.
60. The popular confection “candy corn” was created by George Renninger in the 1880s and sold by Goelitz Confectionery Company (today it’s called the Jelly Bean Co.). It was originally called “chicken feed” and was sold in a box marked with a rooster.
61. Reese’s Cups are America’s favorite candy based on sales figures in 2022. Skittles, M&Ms, and Starbursts came in close behind Reese’s Cups.
62. Do you think that Candy is only a child’s affair? Over 86% of parents have stated that they have stolen their children’s Halloween candy. Plus, over 50% admit to stashing Halloween candy to indulge in later in the year.