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Trick or treat!
The spookiest night of the year is upon us, as costumed children knock on your door, eagerly demanding candy—or else!
Halloween has deep roots, originating over 2,000 years ago when the Celts celebrated Samhain by lighting bonfires to ward off spirits. The phrase “Trick or Treat” made its debut in the U.S. in 1927, and since then, the holiday has become an integral part of American culture, rivaling even pumpkin pie.
In 2026, approximately 68% of households participate in Halloween festivities, contributing to significant spending. Shoppers are expected to spend an average of $108.24 on costumes, candy, and decorations, culminating in a staggering $10 billion in total expenditures.
Thanks to this enthusiastic spending, Halloween is now the second highest-grossing commercial holiday, only behind Christmas.
Here are some enchanting facts about this spooky celebration.
2026 Spooky Halloween Facts
31 Spooky Halloween Trivia No One Ever Told You
- Shoppers are projected to spend $108.24 on average to celebrate Halloween.
- 72% of parents confess to pilfering candy from their children.
- 68% of individuals will engage in Halloween festivities.
- Approximately 172 million people are expected to celebrate Halloween this year.
- U.S. confectionery and nut stores that offer candy employ over 25,000 people.
- Skittles remain the top Halloween candy, followed closely by Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, M&M’s, Snickers, and Starburst.
- The most popular children’s costume is still the princess, with 8.2% of children opting for this choice.
- Following the princess, superhero costumes rank second, with 6.5% of children dressing as their favorite heroes.
- 9.1% of adults who dress up choose to go as witches.
- 18% of people dress their dogs for Halloween.
- Common canine costumes include pumpkins (9.5%), hot dogs (7.5%), and superheroes (7.5%).
- The phrase “Trick or Treat” was first used in the U.S. in 1927.
- The word “pumpkin” first appeared in the fairy tale Cinderella.
- On Halloween, twice as many children are at risk of pedestrian accidents compared to the average day.
- The full moon on Halloween in 2026 is a rare event, the first since 2001—beware of werewolves!
- The record for the most Jack O’Lanterns lit simultaneously is 30,581.
- About 2 billion pumpkins are cultivated annually in the U.S.
- Top Halloween purchases include candy (95%), decorations (72%), costumes (67%), and greeting cards (35%).
- The world’s largest Halloween parade is New York Village’s Halloween Parade, attracting 2 million spectators and over 60,000 costumed participants.
- 2 billion pounds of pumpkins are grown in the U.S. every year.
- Trick-or-treating has roots in medieval traditions.
- Originally known as “guising” in Ireland, young people dressed in costumes and asked for food or money in exchange for performances. Today, this tradition has evolved into children requesting candy.
- The Irish potato famine and subsequent mass immigration significantly popularized Halloween in the U.S.
- During World War II, sugar rationing curtailed Halloween celebrations.
- Consumers spent approximately $10 billion on Halloween last year.
- Some animal shelters temporarily halt the adoption of black cats during October.
- The first Jack O’Lanterns were made from turnips.
- More than twice the amount of candy is sold for Halloween compared to Valentine’s Day.
- The haunted attraction industry generates between $500 and $800 million annually in ticket sales.
- Owners of haunted attractions invest over $100 million each year in props, including fog machines, lighting equipment, and costumes.
- Jack O’Lanterns were originally carved from turnips, potatoes, and beets.
Sources
https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/social-media-influencing-near-record-halloween-spending
https://www.hauntworld.com/haunted-attraction-information
https://www.census.gov/
https://www.usda.gov/
https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween
https://www.factretriever.com/halloween-facts
Author
Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.
