Halloween – Even Bigger Today

Cynthia Lopinto Feature Article Leave a comment 2,619 Views

By CYN LoPINTO
Editor-in-chief, gerontologist

Many of us can remember the excitement we felt as the calendar turned from September to October and Halloween would be coming before the month’s end. It meant it was time to start thinking about what costume to choose and wear trick or treating with our friends. Back in the 1960s and 1970s, there were two ways to go. If you were really creative, you could make your own from things lying around the house and a lot of time and effort. Or, as many of us did, buy those manufactured boxed Halloween costumes (often with the Ben Cooper name on the box).

I am sure you recall these poorly-made products. They usually consisted of a lightweight jumpsuit design one-piece with some character logo and that cheap plastic mask with the thin rubber band stapled on both sides. It is especially hard to forget that mask. It would get sweaty and hot and the tiny plastic hole cut-out around the mouth and two small eye openings would hurt and slice into you. The rubber band often snapped before you made it down the block, so you ended up wearing just the jumpsuit and tossing the mask. If you were one of the lucky few with a rubber band still miraculously attached, you would put the mask up on your head anyway since it was too uncomfortable and got in the way of seeing where you were going. As much as everybody complained about these costumes, we still bought them. Manufacturers kept producing new ones showcasing the latest popular super heroes, cartoon characters and television personalities. These were what all the kids wanted.

Today, Halloween has become big business. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), projections for 2014 showed Americans spending $7.4 billion on costumes, decorations and candy. Families now decorate their houses for Halloween almost as much as they do for Christmas. Trick or treating is still enjoyed by many kids but some families choose to go to structured Halloween activities at malls, community centers or churches. Lots of money is spent on candy both for parties and to give out during trick or treating. Costumes portraying characters from television and movies are still a popular choices but children’s costumes are a lot more complex than those from our era. The one big trend towards safety is that many kid’s costumes do not come with masks anymore. I guess both manufacturers and parents finally realized that trick or treating and masks don’t mix!

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Cynthia Lopinto

Cyn LoPinto, M.A. is a gerontologist focusing on significant issues affecting older adults and their families. Her areas of interest include lifestyle enrichment, family dynamics, and caregiver support. Cyn has worked in both the recreational and healthcare industries.