Halloween once was about cutting holes in an old sheet, going out to trick-or-treat and hoping no one mistook you for Charlie Brown and gave you a rock.
There’s a slight bit more to it these days.
According to the National Retail Federation, Americans set a Halloween spending record of $12.2 billion in 2023, which wouldn’t seem to include appropriating family laundry for the occasion.
What does appear to be a major outlay is for seasonal decorations. A quick search of Etsy, for example, shows an $11,323.90 asking price for 200-centimenter-tall, 170-centimeter-wide — you’re welcome to do the conversion — witch’s head made of fiberglass, metal and plastic.
But of course, an impressive Halloween display doesn’t have to cost nearly that much.
A random drive around the area shows that plenty of folks are decking out their yards with everything from skeletons and Frankenstein’s monsters to the Peanuts gang waiting in vain for the Great Pumpkin. And you must admit, it’s fun to drive past such homes and marvel at the comparison between now and then.
One constant, though: On the heels of their kids’ Oct. 31 hauls, parents might want to double check about upcoming appointments with the dentist.
Especially if the youngsters decide it might not be a bad idea to bite into those rocks.