New research has today announced how Scots will be celebrating Halloween.
Leading savings site VoucherCodes has revealed that the average parent in Scotland will spend at least £49.75 celebrating Halloween with their family this year – spending slightly more on their own costume than their children’s!
Adults will spend an average of £15.40 on a costume for themselves and £13.35 on each of their children, as well as £9.80 on sweets and £11.15 on decorations.
The biggest dilemma of Halloween is often what to choose as the costume, with the eyes of expectation from friends and family anxiously hoping for something special.
Fortunately, the research discovered the hot pop culture references to jump on and the clichés to avoid.
There is an appetite to find something new, away from the traditional Halloween norms. Indeed, the most popular costume this year in Scotland this year is a controversial character from across the pond. A quarter (26%) think that President Donald Trump will be 2018’s most popular costume. Second are characters from the computer game Fortnight on 17%, third are unicorns on 10%, with wise-crasking superhero Deadpool fourth on 9%.
It’s clear that the entertainment industry has a big impact on Halloween costume ideas. The classic rivalry debate of Marvel and DC is played out at Halloween and, this year, it’s the likes of Spiderman and Hulk who come out on top. For kids, it’s Marvel who lead the charge with four out of 10 (42%) children wanting to dress up as Marvel characters compared to just one in four (26%) kids preferring their favourite DC heroes such as Superman and Batman.
Meanwhile, a quarter think ghosts (29%) and wizards (27%) are a thing of the past as the most overused costumes.
Trick or treat is the question on every kid’s lips at Halloween these days – Scottish Field fondly remembers when it was called guising! – as they anxiously knock on doors with carrier bag in hand and an appetite hoping to be filled. The research has discovered Scotland’s favourite treats and the likelihood of a trick coming your way if you answer the door emptyhanded.
The most popular treats in Scotland are chocolate bars, according to 45% of those surveyed. Second were Haribo sweets, Drumstick lollipops third, with cupcakes fourth.
Only half (49%) of Scots are in favour of celebrating Halloween, with a fifth (19%) now actively disliking the holiday. Indeed, more people are planning to spend the night with their lights switched off pretending they’re not home (50%) than to head out trick or treating (27%) this year.
This means half the houses across the country are leaving themselves vulnerable to a crowd of ghosts and goblins. Worryingly, almost two-thirds (59%) of children confess they’ve ‘tricked’ a house for not handing out sweets at Halloween!
To avoid a nasty surprise this Halloween, the research has found you’d be better off keeping it simple. Almost half of children say their favourite treats are chocolate bars (45%) or Haribo (38%) which are far more popular than Halloween biscuits (17%) or sour sweets (14%).
For kids wanting to give a nasty surprise, the research has found that clown costumes (28%) are what adults are most afraid of.
There are lots of ways to celebrate Halloween and embrace the creepy spirit as a family. Indeed, the research has discovered that carving a pumpkin is as popular among adults (55%) as it is with children (56%) for a great, affordable family activity at home. Similarly, there is a desire for DIY costume making with a third of adults (33%) saying it’s something they’re looking forward to trying in the future and 1 in 3 (31%) children saying it’s a task they’ve enjoyed in the past.
The most popular way to mark Halloween in Scotland is to guising, followed by carving a pumpkin or turnip, buying a costume, attending a Halloween party, and then watching a scary movie.
The research has found that Halloween fever spreads far beyond children and families. The majority (49%) of adults say they will be celebrating Halloween by watching a scary movie this year, while almost half (42%) would love to attend a Halloween party.
Anita Naik, lifestyle editor at VoucherCodes, said: ‘Halloween is a fantastic time for families to come together, with children dressing up as their favourite heroes and villains from the year.
‘However, it’s scary that parents will be spending over £40 celebrating the occasion buying costumes, sweets and decorations. Hopefully this research will help guide families to ensure that money is spent wisely – and there’s no nasty tricks up anyone’s sleeves this Halloween!’
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