The 2020s have already been shaping up rather frighteningly since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Once lockdown ended and people could actually celebrate the spooky season though, it seemed like people were rushing to celebrate Halloween. A trend in the uptick of Halloween decor purchases can be found in a 2024 Halloween spending survey conducted by a National Retail Federation — the world’s largest retail trade association — showing a 42 percent increase in total spending on Halloween decorations since 2019. But is it really necessary to show off our homes like this though?
It’s interesting that Halloween is the only other holiday besides Christmas where it’s typical for homeowners to decorate the front of their houses, sans a couple of dedicated Fourth of July or Easter fans. There might be more spirit to Christmas decorating than for Halloween though.
December is already packed with far more holidays to celebrate than October, including the near-universally celebrated New Year’s Eve. Christmas decorations tend to also celebrate a general winter aesthetic, with versatile decorations like snowmen, wreaths and lights. Halloween iconography like ghosts, skeletons or webs however lean far more into the spooky aspects of October than of the season, apart from pumpkins and gourds that will be carved with spooky images anyways. In fact, people that decorate their houses for fall will often swap out their fall memorabilia for dedicated Halloween props.
Consider the core purpose of these holidays and how much decoration plays a role in them. Christmas celebrates people coming together to share gifts and to feast. The most iconic Christmas symbol — Christmas tree — is generally communal in nature. Families generally hang ornaments on their trees together and public Christmas trees are centerpieces that facilitate holiday gatherings. It makes sense to decorate homes for Christmas since people will have to get very familiar with your house.
Meanwhile, jack-o’-lanterns don’t have a role nearly as centralizing as the Christmas tree, and Halloween itself is considerably less interpersonal than Christmas. No one comes into your house for example. Halloween at its core revolves around trick-or-treaters coming to a house, taking candy and then leaving. It’s rather transactional when you think about it. When put into perspective, Halloween decor seems a bit more niche for holiday buying compared to other festivities.
The old adage for kids though is that the houses that are decorated on Halloween will likely be giving out candy. Halloween decorations are thought to have some utility in that sense. Homeowners may decorate their houses in order to advertise to trick-or-treaters that candy is available at their doorstep. However, this strategy is not always effective and there are many houses that get decked out for Halloween where trick-or-treaters will just walk past for the entire night.
Indeed, the unofficial “trick-or-treat test,” originally proposed by Portland city commissioner Charles Hales in 1999, values urban design over exterior design — prioritizing neighborhoods for their walkability, navigability and safety. Home decor is a much less involved variable that won’t factor much into trick-or-treating strategy. The trends of trick-or-treating are more systemic in origin than we realize, and carving out a pumpkin won’t help if you live in a poorly-designed neighborhood.
Moreover, Halloween is getting more expensive. This year, consumers are spending an average of $106.63 a person according to an NRF survey. Classic skeletons can cost dozens in dollars, while the most eye-catching of decorations — animatronics — can fetch upwards of hundreds of dollars. Inflation is raising the prices of Halloween essentials across the board. Next to more usable products that better celebrate Halloween spirit like candy and costumes, it’s going to be a tough choice cutting costs for Halloween when prices are at a high.
Are Halloween decorations still worth it? Of course, it’s always eye candy to see a house crawling with the creepiest of decorations and the brightest of lights. I’m sure many of us have fond memories of those kinds of houses as trick-or-treaters in our childhood. Halloween is always a fun time, and carving some pumpkins and hanging up a few skeletons is certainly a great way to show off Halloween spirit. If you have the resources to spare, you’re welcome to spruce up your home however you want.
However, decorations aren’t necessary to enjoy Halloween and you can still enjoy the spooky season even in a not spooky house, especially if the economy is already frightening enough. Trick-or-treaters enjoy the taste of candy regardless of decor, and you can save the investment for more decor-intensive holidays down the line. Thankfully, there’s at least no Halloween version of Ebenezer Scrooge or the Grinch that you can be compared to if you decide to skimp out.
