Every October, many children and adults alike count down for the spookiest night of the year- All Hallow’s Eve, more commonly known as Halloween. Between trick-or-treating, costume parties and scary decorations, the commercial effects of this holiday heavily influence our nation economically. Across the UK, approximately £460 million was spent on ghostly goods in 2015 alone, making October 31st the second biggest party night on our country’s calendar, closely following New Year’s Eve. The success of the event has also doubled over the course of the last decade. But how well do these statistics reflect our public as a whole?
Ben Sidwell, 14 year-old Halloween enthusiast, prepares diligently months in advance for his annual scare-fest of a celebration, complete with ‘real monsters’- namely him and his friends in costumes. He has made his argument in support of the celebrations… “Honestly, I think Halloween is one of my favourite holidays. I don’t really know what got me into it but I love the idea of the thrill and of tension; not knowing what’ll happen like in horror films and fright nights! My friends and family help me every step of the way when we go a bit over the top decorating our house! And I can’t wait for the scares this year!”
Other anonymous statements I collected in favour of the festival included… “It’s a chance to be weird and no one can judge you because it’s Halloween.” And that, “You can show of your creative side with your costume!”.
However, the youth are not the only representatives of the public opinion. Local Biggin Hill resident, Mrs White, is strongly against the practices of this holiday, as she explains in the following… “I dread that day every year- streets full of rowdy hooligans and teenagers, scaring the little ones half to death. Why should they be allowed to frighten them, huh? My little granddaughter couldn’t sleep for a month because of how one boy jumped out in a scary mask! And then you have some children who come and pester my doorbell relentlessly, even though there is not a decoration in sight! What nuisances! I do not celebrate this Satan-worshipping night- never have, never will.”
Another common issue against the celebration is the cost that trails with it. A multi-chain-supermarket worker explained to me how she noticed the rise in pumpkin prices at the branch she operates in. “Customers complain and I don’t know what to tell them! I don’t know why it’s rising- maybe it’s because the demand at this time of the year- but I do know that it isn’t good news for my kids who want to carve pumpkins. It’s a ripoff! I refuse to pay that much for a vegetable that I will throw away by the end of the night anyway!”
Despite still celebrating Halloween, this mother-of-three continues to explain how appalled she is at the shops “piling up the prices” compared to last year's pumpkin purchase. This statement can be reinforced by figures from the Western Cape Government’s report on 2015 vegetable sales at Cape Town Fresh Produce Market. Pumpkin prices in 2015 saw a 34% rise on average, compared to the prices at the same time of year in 2014. Upon showing these statistics to the anonymous mother in question, she commented how much of an outrage it is, “to find out that big businesses are trying to benefit from our innocent celebrating of Halloween.”
These split views of three neighbours who live that of a few roads apart not only prove the variety of opinions in Biggin Hill, but also nationwide. According to the 2012 YouGov poll, 45% believe for Halloween to be an “unwelcome American cultural import”, whilst 33% believe trick or treating is not harmless. Many in the small sample group I considered for interviewing had no opinion on the holiday, neither having a strong attraction nor despise for the date. There truly is no single, nationwide, joint opinion.
After having questioned both extremes, I ask this- what is your verdict? Do you think Halloween is a trick- another greedy commercial scam for businesses to earn from the pockets of our population? Or is it a treat- an innocent chance for people to let loose and have fun regardless of their age? Have the statements of any of the three interviewees influenced your previous opinion?
