Frightful money spent on Hallowe’en garb

BOOMING demand for fake blood, joke teeth and witches’ hats is making Hallowe’en a serious rival to Easter and St Valentine’s Day, shopkeepers said last night.

Stores reckon adults are spending up to €70 each on costumes and accessories while shopkeepers are expecting overwhelming demand for pumpkins, treats and party food.

Retail Ireland, the voice of the country’s shops and stores, said growth in demand for Hallowe’en goods had boomed within the last three years.

“Clearly Hallowe’en is now significant for retailers and a lot of it is to do with the increasing affluence of Ireland,” said director Torlach Denihan.

“Years ago Hallowe’en was a pretty simple event when children went trick-or-treating, wore masks and got a few bob and some chocolate bars.

“Nowadays they’re in full costume and the adults are also celebrating it as well and enjoying the craic. That’s all following through to the shops,” he said.

Shops across the country are stocking all kinds of Hallowe’en ware from novelty lights, fake gravestones for the garden and party foods — with ranges to be found in discount as well as mainstream retailers.

Shops without Hallowe’en goods are even dressing up their front windows in ghoulish garb as a marketing pitch to sell day-to-day goods like shoes, books and DVD players.

Mr Denihan reckons the October Bank Holiday and Hallowe’en period is approaching St Valentine’s Day and Easter in importance for retail trade.

“Obviously it would be coming well behind Christmas and the January sales but it’s certainly on the calendar (for shops) now,” he said.

Historians trace the roots of Hallowe’en to a pagan festival 2,000 years ago in Celtic Ireland, though modern celebrations have an American twist.

Irish emigrants in the 19th century took the “night of the dead” celebrations to the US, where they flourished into modern trick-or-treating with ghoulish costumes and the use of pumpkins as lanterns.

As more Irish people rediscover the ancient celebrations, the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) is reporting brisk trade in pumpkin sales this year, although a wet May and dry summer has hit supplies.

“Pumpkins are huge business now. It has been gradual but it’s growing all the time,” said Co Meath farmer William Ruiter, who is chairman of the IFA vegetable committee.

“They used to be for the kids but it’s the adults having parties who are taking them all. But not many get eaten. They’re just a bit of fun.”