As I plan my third trip to the local iParty store (where I’ll be visiting during another lunchbreak), I stop to wonder what this holiday is all about. Is it about candy? Is it about being scared? Is it about dressing up? Or is it just an other excuse to feel like a kid again?

Like most holidays, there’s the typical family tension (especially if you have kids). I, for one, have a princess, a scream character and the most complicated of all, a zombie gangster to appease.  The princess is upset she can’t particpate in the school parade (she’s too young, it’s freezing and we just got some snow dumped on us). The scream character wants to bring his toy knife to school (bad idea). And the zombie gangster needs to understand the many reasons he is not allowed to rip my tuxedo to pieces (not all zombies have ripped clothes).

The results from our recent Halloween study reveal, however, all the positive characteristics of this holiday for working adults.

Percent that particpate = 86%

Percent that watch a scary movie to get in the spirit = 30%

Percent that buy custome(s) = 79%

Percent that spend $25-$50 on costumes = 29%

Percent that list movie/tv characters as an all-time favorite costome = 24% (Sesame Street was #1)

 Percent that list superhero characters as an all-time favorite costome = 11% (Batman was #1)

Percent that list witches as an all-time favorite costome = 8%

Percent that list an animal as an all-time favorite costome = 7 (cat was #1)

Percent that list something sexy as an all-time favorite costome = 6% (French Maid was #1)

Other results show working adults’ horror movie preferences. Including the scariest:

Halloween                                     11.6%
Night of the Living Dead           4.7%
The Shining                                   15.7%
The Exorcist                                  26.1%
Psycho (1960)                                6.7%
Silence of the Lambs                   12.1%
A Nightmare on Elm Street     12.0%

 Enjoy your halloween!