Halloween is right around the corner. People all over the country are anticipating the beloved tradition of dressing up in fun costumes and trick-or-treating around their neighborhoods… especially candy companies.
Some people believe that Halloween is a marketing ploy created by candy companies in order to sell more candy. There is some truth in this statement, however, we need to go through the whole history of the holiday before drawing conclusions.
Let’s set the scene In Ireland, approximately 2,500 years ago. Pagan Celts believed that on October 31, the veil between the living and the dead was thin enough to allow dead spirits to return and visit the living. This was because of the association of Winter with death, and November 1 essentially started the winter season. Plus, the harvest season would be coming to a close as well. This created a sort of wedge epitomized by death and ending. And thus, the tradition of “Samhain” began.
Samhain begins every year on October 31, and officially ends on November 1. In a sense, Samhain resembles the Hispanic celebration of Dia De Los Muertos, but they still have their differences. Dia de los Muertos honors and celebrates the dead, welcoming their spirits back into the living world. According to National Geographic, in Samhain traditions, spirits of the dead are seen as evil and cause trouble or harm. This is why the Celts lit bonfires and wore masks to ward off the ghosts: which may be the origin of Halloween costumes.
Years later, the Christians named November 1 as All Saint’s Day. This meant that the day before, October 31st, would officially be named All Hallows’ Eve. Sound familiar? That’s because It is one of the earliest versions of the name Halloween!
Now we know that Halloween has its history way before Mars and Hershey’s began putting chocolate bars on the shelves. So, is Halloween still a marketing ploy? The question still stands.
The answer is no… but also, yes. It wasn’t until the 1950’s that candy companies began marketing candy specifically for Halloween. So it was not until then that companies began to capitalize on the holiday and turn it into a major profit point for them.
With every passing Halloween, the industry sees a significant increase in revenue. According to the National Retail Federation, it is estimated that candy companies generate at least three billion dollars in revenue each Halloween season, making it one of the most profitable holidays for the industry.
It’s no surprise that companies, especially candy ones, use holidays like Halloween as an opportunity to make large amounts of money. Nonetheless, the Celts are the ones to thank for the cherished holiday… and the business opportunities.
