All across America trees are shedding their leaves, temperatures are falling, and football is on T.V. almost every day of the week. What does all this mean? That it’s almost time to for Halloween! Are you ready? If you aren’t prepared, or if you are lacking some Halloween spirit, then you’re in the right place. Keep reading to learn about the history of Halloween and to find out what candy and which costumes are the most popular. And what DealDash blog would be complete without a sneak peek at some exciting upcoming promotions? So without further adieu, let’s get into the Halloween sprit!
From humble beginnings to big business
Halloween has been a prominent holiday for quite a while, but do you know about the origins of this spooky celebration? Halloween began centuries ago as Samhain, a Celtic tradition where bonfires and costumes helped ward off pesky ghosts. Things shifted when Pope Gregory III in the 8th-century spotlighted November 1 as All Saints’ Day. This later became All Hallows’ Eve, now known as Halloween. This exciting holiday found a new home in the US thanks to Irish immigrants who brought their customs with them when they came to the United States.
In the 1930’s, young children began a new Halloween tradition; trick-or-treating. This tradition stems from the ancient practice of “souling,” where poor individuals would go door-to-door offering prayers for the dead in exchange for food. The “trick” part implies a playful threat of mischief if no treats are given. Today, trick-or-treating is an essential part of Halloween. The normal age for trick-or-treaters is between 5 and 14 years old, and it has been estimated that close to 50 million American children go trick-or-treating each year.
What to wear and what to eat?
Trick-or-treating is much more than just walking around and talking to your neighbors. Kids need to dress up and homeowners need to be ready to give out some candy…unless they want to risk getting tricked! Do you feel clueless about costume ideas? Are you out of touch with recent developments in the candy industry? Well, fear not. We have you covered.
Let’s start with what to wear. According to a recent survey, the most popular choice for American children is to dress up as either a superhero, or a princess. Either of these ideas can be interpreted in a variety of different ways, and can be done either extravagently or on a budget. This year, with the popularity of the movie Barbie, you can expect children of all ages to be dressed up as the iconic doll.
In terms of candy, projected Halloween spending is on the rise and appears to hit record levels this year. People are buying more candy now than ever! Did you have a favorite kind of Halloween candy? Interestingly, your answer might depend on when and where you grew up. A recent survey showed that each state had different sales results for Halloween candy. Each state recorded different sales results for different types of candy, however clear national favorites were identified. The most popular kinds of halloween candy across the nation were M&Ms, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and Hot Tamales.
Not all types of Halloween candy are popular. And while some folks may enjoy the sweets listed below, Necco Wafers, Candy Corn and Circus Peanuts topped the list for ‘worst Halloween candies’.
Not all treats have to be candy…
It’s true that kids covet some candy more than others, but there is one fear that can stop any trick-or-treater still in their tracks: the idea of going to a house and receiving something other than candy alltogether!
The classic example of this is if someone has a dentist as a neighbor. The go to their house, press the doorbell, and are greated with a smiling face. But instead of receiving some chocolate, or caramel, or even candy corn, they are handed a green apple. And while the dentist might have their heart in the right place, there are not many kids who would be thrilled at the prospect of receiving a piece of fruit. But believe it or not, more and more people are handing out non-candy items each Halloween. So if you are health-conscious, or simply would like to offer a unique treat this Halloween, here is a list of 32 options, including stickers, small toys, or magnets.
Celebrate Halloween with us on DealDash!
This Halloween you don’t have to go door-to-door to get some great treats. Thanks to DealDash, you can have an action-packed Halloween, all from the comfort of your own couch! And if you find yourself getting impatient waiting for the Hallween to begin, why not start the fun early by checking out DealDash’s Spooky Savings promotions, beginning on October 23rd!?
Spooky Savings week is coming soon!
Let’s start with our Spooky Savings. The scary savings start on October 23rd until Halloween day, October 31st. We’ve packed this promotion with extra rewards just for bidding DealDash auctions. During Spooky Savings Week, the Time as Highest Bidder multiplier will be as high as 3X, which means you can progress through the bidder levels and claim free bids quicker than ever.
You can also find special types of auctions to bid in, including SpyBuddy Auctions. These auctions let you reveal what your competition was up to. Every 60 minutes you can reveal all booked bids for one minute. Any bid count of over 500 is displayed as 500+. The list of booked bids does not update after the reveal. Instead, you must wait at least 60 minutes to reveal again.
You will also have the chance to participate in Triple-Booked Auctions. You can only participate in three auctions marked with the Triple-Booked icon simultaneously. However, participating in the Triple-Booked Auctions does not affect the number of regular auctions you can participate in.
get ready for some major halloween fun
Our Spooky Savings promotion ends on Halloween Day, which happens to be a very special day on DealDash! On Halloween, bids will be on sale for just 11 cents each! That is a scary-good deal for everyone. Bidders can also enjoy a 2x Time as Highest Bidder multiplier. On Halloween, October 31st, you will also have the chance to bid in Early Bird Auctions. These are a special type of auction where you can only book bids 10 seconds before the auction starts. So be an Early Bird and see who’s there to get the worm!
No matter what your costume is this year, or what kind of candy is your favorite, we wish you and your family a very safe and happy Halloween! Enjoy our special Spooky Week and Hallowen promotions, and happy bidding!
If you are new to DealDash or the bidding fee online auction model and want to give it a try, use the promo code “FREEBIDS” upon registration to get an extra 100 free bids with your first Bid Pack purchase.
