‘Halloweenmas’: how the spooky one-nighter turned into a month-long spectacular
Welcome to Halloweenmas, weeks of themed fun and gifts – from costume parties to decorating trees – without the stress, rules or cost of Christmas The tree is up, the wreath is hanging on the front door and you’ve just opened your advent calendar . All told, it’s beginning to feel a lot like … Halloween . If it sounds like the stuff of nightmares then that’s the point: Britons are increasingly…
Halloweenmas: a month-long Halloween celebration taking over homes
Britons are turning Halloween into a month-long tradition, decorating their homes with spooky versions of Christmas customs. The UK general manager of the wholesale platform Faire, Charlotte Broadbent, explains that Halloween has evolved to mirror Christmas traditions without the stress and expectation of the holiday. Sales of Halloween-themed products have surged more than 500% in the past four years, with artificial trees, wreaths, and ornaments being the biggest growth areas.
Wilko, a budget retailer, notes that Halloween trees are one of the most popular decorating trends for 2026. Sales of artificial trees have increased by 200% in September compared to the previous year. There are no rules for creating a Halloween tree, allowing for personalized and creative displays, from a witch's hat-shaped tree to a simple, smaller tree with spooky accessories.
Social media showcases the diverse ways people decorate their Halloween trees, with styles ranging from edgy to child-friendly. Hobbycraft, an arts and crafts retailer, offers step-by-step guides for decorating twig trees, including DIY spiderwebs and felt pumpkins. The Box Party, an online partyware and gift retailer, has seen a 40% increase in stock sales this year, as households begin decorating earlier and with more thought.
Halloweenmas is no longer just about costumes and sweets. Young Britons, particularly those aged 16 to 34, see it as an opportunity to express themselves through fashion, makeup, and decorations. Mintel, a research group, found that this age group over-indexes in purchases related to Halloween, including fancy dress, cosmetics, and decorations.
Social media plays a significant role in shaping consumer spending and extending the Halloween season beyond October. Forty percent of Halloween buyers use social platforms to buy products directly, with viral costume trends, makeup tutorials, and home decor inspiration influencing their decisions. While some may view Halloweenmas as over the top, Broadbent argues that it is a way for people to invest in quality time together before Christmas, fostering creativity and fun.
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