12 fun facts about Halloween that may surprise you

Gabbi ShawOct 28, 2020, 20:23 IST

Neighborhoods in Queens, New York, get in the Halloween spirit.John Nacion/AP

Halloween is only a few days away.
The first citywide Halloween celebration took place in Anoka, Minnesota, nearly 100 years ago.
Last year, more than half of Americans — 68% to be exact — celebrated the holiday.

Halloween, which first became popular in the US during the 1800s, has become a multi-billion-dollar industry, including candy, movies, haunted experiences, and creepy costumes.

WalletHub shared a study with Insider in 2019 that breaks down Halloween by the numbers, such as how much money people spend on the holiday, how many kids are expected to dress as princesses, and the most popular Halloween costume for your pets.

Keep scrolling to learn more about how Americans celebrate October 31.

The first citywide Halloween celebration took place in Anoka, Minnesota, in 1921.

Three girls amuse each other with their masked costumes as they prepare for Halloween festivities in 1929. Felix Koch/Cincinnati Museum Center/Getty Images

In a normal year, 68% of Americans celebrate Halloween, according to WalletHub.

People in costumes participate in the annual Village Halloween Parade in New York City in 2018. Stephanie Keith/Getty Images

And while it's a huge industry, with a projected $8.8 billion spent last year, not everyone spends mega bucks.

Visitors enjoy picking their own pumpkins at Rock Creek Farm Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze in Broomfield, Colorado. Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post via Getty Images

In fact, 76% of Americans spend $50 or less to celebrate the spookiest day of the year.

Rande Gerber and George Clooney attend the Casamigos Halloween party on October 27, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Casamigos

Of that $8.8 billion, $2.6 billion was spent on candy for the estimated 41 million trick-or-treaters last year.

Trick or treat? Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

But not all that candy goes to the kids — 72% of parents have admitted to stealing their children's candy.

People trick or treat in a Brooklyn, New York, neighborhood on Halloween 2015. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

At least $3.2 billion was spent on costumes last year.

Some superhero costumes to choose from. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Last year, 1.3 million children were expected to dress as witches, 2.4 million as superheroes, and 3.1 million as princesses.

Two girls wearing princess costumes at the Halloween Festival at Jose Marti Park. Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Meanwhile, among adults, there were 2 million vampires and 5 million witches stalking the streets last year.

A person dressed as a witch. Paul Zinken/picture alliance via Getty Images

Animals won't miss out on the fun — 17% of Americans dress their pets in costumes.

Witch costumes are popular for pups, too. AP

The record for the longest walk-through haunted house is 7,183 feet, 8.4 inches — nearly a mile and a half.

Dragon's House of Horror in Albuquerque. Facebook/Dragon's House of Horror

But if haunted houses aren't your speed, you could always check out a scary movie. In 2018, horror movies made $902 million at the US box office.

"Annabelle." New Line Cinema

A family of 'Harry Potter' fans created a Halloween display that looks like the Hogwarts castle

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