Memories of Halloween Past: Celebrating Traditions New & Old
Originating as the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, Halloween has evolved into a month filled with horror movies, pumping picking and festive gatherings, culminating on October 31st with costumes, candy and trick-or-treating. A feeling of nostalgia is in the air, bringing fond recollections of childhood to many adults’ minds — and smiles to their faces.
From dime-store boxed costumes with plastic masks to homemade treats from the neighbors, Halloween conjures up different memories for everyone. When you think of Halloween, what comes to mind?
A trip down memory lane
During the 1950s, paper trick-or-treat bags from the local five-and-dime were all the rage, as kids stuffed them with Tootsie Pops and Baby Ruth bars. And if you hit the street for trick-or-treating, you might recall walking alongside Popeye, Bugs Bunny or Davy Crockett, among the other popular costumes of the decade. If you were lucky, you had a Ben Cooper costume that your parents bought you from the local Woolworth’s or Sears catalog. Other kids went trick-or-treating as homemade witches, scarecrows, and ghosts (made from sheets that had holes cut out for eyes).
Does watching a classic scary movie or TV show bring you back to your childhood? In 1955, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow debuted as a stand-alone television special. Alfred Hitchcock turned the dial up on horror with the big-screen release of Psycho in 1960. On TV, The Addams Family hit the air on September 18, 1964. The show’s seventh episode — “Halloween with the Addams Family” — became an overnight classic.
The 1970s were the peak of old-school Halloween antics as children ran door-to-door without their parents. Today, trick-or-treating traditions of Halloween have become focused on smaller neighborhoods. “Trunk-or-Treating,” similar to Halloween tailgating, has exploded in popularity. Generally organized by schools or community groups, this practice provides peace of mind for parents, while creating a safe space for kids to collect their treats.
The price tag for Halloween fun
That’s not the only thing about the holiday that’s changed. Halloween has grown into America’s second-largest commercial holiday, right after Christmas. Shoppers report that they’ll spend an average of $86.27 this Halloween — that’s a grand total of nearly $9 billion. Top spending categories include:
- $3.2 billion on costumes
- $2.6 billion on candy
- $2.7 billion on decorations
- $390 million on greeting cards
According to the National Confectioners Association, people age 60+ are most likely to hand out candy on the big night. In fact, 84% of the demographic plans to dole out treats, compared to 75% of the population overall. Clearly, many of us are not ready to give up on the magic of the Halloween holiday any time soon!
Looking back while moving forward
Whether you or a family member is approaching retirement, or already in the thick of it, there’s so much fun to be had in the next phase. Don’t let a fixed retirement income hold you back from making new memories. If you’re concerned about how you’re going to fund your lifestyle during retirement, the good news is you have options.
A reverse mortgage can be a smart financial tool that lets you borrow against your home equity, while still retaining ownership of your home†. You can choose to receive a lump-sum payment, a monthly payment or a line of credit‡, so you have cash at your disposal if and when you need it. To learn more, call Reverse Mortgage Funding at 888-277-1567. We’ll set up a convenient in-person appointment with an experienced local loan specialist who can answer all your questions and walk you through the process.
This content is sponsored by RMF, one of the nation’s leading reverse mortgage lenders. We are dedicated to helping older Americans retire more freely, in the comfort of their own homes. As a result of our commitment to providing an extraordinary and positive customer experience, we have earned a 98% customer satisfaction rating*; a 4.5-star / Excellent score on Trustpilot; 4.8 out of 5 stars on LendingTree; and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Call 888-277-1567 to speak with a licensed reverse mortgage specialist to learn about our retirement financing products and solutions.
†As with any mortgage, you must meet your loan obligations, keeping current with property taxes, insurance and maintenance.
SEE WHAT FUNDS YOU MAY HAVE AVAILABLE
If you have equity in your home and believe you meet the eligibility requirements, a reverse mortgage may be the option that could help you retire smart.
Check Eligibility
‡Borrowers who elect a fixed rate loan will receive a single disbursement lump sum payment. Other payment options are available only for adjustable rate mortgages.”
*Source: RMF customer survey 2018