Today is Halloween in America.
It’s a fun day—one I always look forward to.
When I was a kid, I LOVED trick-or-treating with my brother and sister (even in the cold October 31st weather of South Dakota). Nowadays, in Phoenix, we host a party in our driveway on Halloween night for our friends while our kids gather candy from the neighbors. It’s a fun holiday—I do enjoy it.
However, in my mind, Halloween also marks the beginning of the longest season of excess in our country:
I think of it this way:
- Halloween is…
- followed by Thanksgiving…
- followed by Black Friday…
- followed by Cyber Monday…
- followed by Christmas…
- followed by New Year’s Eve.
No wonder everybody in the country decides on January 1st they need to make changes in how they are living. Halloween through New Year’s has just equaled 64 days of excess.
Look at some of the stats:
For Halloween, Americans are expected to spend $12.2 billion on candy, costumes and decorations this year—that’s $108 for every person who plans to celebrate.
That’s $3.6 billion on candy (for a one-day holiday!), over $4 billion on costumes, and 3.9 billion on decorations. I’m not sure when big inflatable Halloween decorations in our front yard became a thing, but apparently that’s what people are doing now.
Thanksgiving is famous for three things: family, football, and overeating. Meals are important and so is celebration. Thanksgiving is a special day in our home with good food and meaningful traditions. So please don’t read that I disapprove of the holiday.
But let’s be honest, when the average American consumes 4,500 calories in a single day (almost twice the recommended daily intake), it’s easy to see how the holiday contributes to this season of excess.
Thanksgiving gives way to Black Friday (with some stores choosing to open on Thanksgiving Day). Black Friday gives way to Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday. All told, Americans will spend $51B shopping for unneeded items the weekend immediately following a day being grateful for all the things they do have.
And then of course, we have the Christmas season and all the excesses that accompany the holidays celebrated during the month of December.
The calendar is full of scheduled events (work parties, church parties, dance recitals, band performances, family gatherings, and community events). Billfolds are opened wide and often—50% of holiday shoppers either overspend their holiday budget or do not set one at all and 28% of holiday shoppers enter the season still paying off debt from last year’s gift shopping.
One week later, we’ll gather again to celebrate the start of a New Year (or in this year’s case, a new decade). We’ll eat more, drink more, attend more parties, and stay up later than we normally would.
When everything is all said and done, on January 1, we’ll stand on the scale, open our credit card statement, or take one look around the house and realize that change is necessary.
We will resolve to lose weight, get out of debt, organize the house, or overcome an addiction that began in moderation but grew into excess. We’ll know we overdid it the past couple months and resolve to do better going forward.
Seasons of extended excess often lead to the realization that change must occur. And that season of excess starts today… on Halloween.
The upcoming months are a wonderful time of year filled with family, traditions, and memories to be made. We honor our faith, our past, and the communities we live in.
But if you are often swept away by the excesses of the upcoming season, resolve today to not make the same mistakes of the past. You don’t need to wait until January 1st to make that decision.
Set boundaries on your spending. Know your financial limitations and develop your budget now for the entire season. Don’t let November & December ruin your January thru October.
Set boundaries on your celebrations. You do not need to embrace excess to enjoy this season of the year. Halloween can still be enjoyed without an inflatable black cat in your front yard. Thanksgiving can still be enjoyed without a stomachache. Christmas can be appreciated without falling into consumerism. And New Year’s can be enjoyed in moderation.
Set boundaries on your expectations. Too many of us fall into the thinking that the perfect holiday requires us to overextend ourselves. We want everything perfect for our kids (regardless of their age), our friends, and ourselves. And we think that means mountains of decorations, gifts, or sugary foods. But your perfect holiday season doesn’t require your excess. Many times, it simply needs your presence.
I will enjoy myself this evening out in the driveway handing out candy, visiting with my neighbors, and celebrating a simple American tradition.
I can enjoy this holiday (and the next one) without falling into the trap of excess. Most of those excesses are entirely manufactured by those who profit from it anyway.
Cathy says
I would love a single, lengthy article (or direct me to the same) on Christmas alone. I would enjoy reading about minimalizing decorations, maximizing family time, and many, many suggestions for non-materialistic gifts and ideas for fun, or how to pick a very thoughtful, single gift when one doesn’t seem to have the knack!
Amanda says
Have you read “Unplug The Christmas Machine” by Jo Robinson? I love this book! I think you would enjoy it. Regarding gifts: It’s really the thought that counts, in my opinion. It’s just nice to know someone thought about me! I now tend to give consumable gifts like food, soap, beeswax candles, etc. :)
Callie says
Christmas became a lot easier for me when a decade ago I started a gift box. It’s just a bankers box I keep in a closet. As the year goes by I’ll see beautiful thank you cards so and so would love. A funny book so and would enjoy. I get them and stash them in the box. I think it’s insane to somehow feel we have to magically buy alllll the right things for the people we love in 1 month. No thank you!
When it’s time for Christmas it’s a lot easier because of the box. I also have a note on my phone where I note ideas I’ve seen of things or ideas of what they might like, so I can reference it. My goal is to have most of my shopping done by Thanksgiving. ( exception is chocolate I wait until dec to buy that )
We also do just stocking stuffers in our family. They tend to overflow out of the stocking. But we love it. It really take the pressure off.
Consumables are always a big part of our Christmas.
Pens, sticky notes, note pad/ journals, really good olive oils, seasonings, chocolates, food nummies etc.
So just think about what the person likes, or uses, or mentioned in Aug about and you’ll start picking up on good ideas.
Every family is different. But we’ve tried the pulling names, the buy a gift $50 or less, the 1 big gift 2 small, and none worked like this has.
We all enjoy Christmas and it takes the pressure off. And I tent to spend a lot less money because I can shop during the year or as something is on sale. I tend to spend $25-$30 a person. It’s budgeted out in advance. Some years it’s been less. Some more. But it’s far far less than what most people spend and I don’t have a credit card hang over in Jan. Hope that helps!
Older mom says
See if you can find the old book Unplugged Christmas, or something like that. Lots of great ideas.
Wendy Brown says
Thank you for speaking your mind… and mine. We have lost the meaning behind these celebrations and have replaced quality with quantity. One cannot hear the “ancestors speak” at Halloween for all the boos , and shrieks. One cannot be truly thankful when one is groaning from too much pie. And honoring the return to light and the stories of hope is lost in the mall crowds. Returning to the true meaning of these times calls us to look inside and approach the world with kinder, gentler intentions. Thank you..
LC "Bat" Barr-Weber says
It’s so true, and this is PERFECTLY timed. I’ve often thought about how increasingly… Weird? Dissonant with my inner self? I find the season from Thanksgiving clear through New Year’s. I still ABSOLUTELY love Halloween and NYE because this girl’s a born partier, but one cannot deny the fact theres quite the institution of excess, gluttony, greed, and intangible discomfort in these upcoming times. I’ve already pulled back on Christmas gifting for years, but there is a ways to go in pursuing more simplicity and authenticity. And I hadn’t considered Halloween as even being a part of it, but you are right.
Lianne says
Very interesting article! I love the Christmas season and I also love buying small gifts for family members and getting together for a nice meal (two days of Christmas here in the Netherlands). But i’m also very happy that certain holidays or events (Halloween, Black Friday, Cyber Monday) aren’t as popular here (yet) as they are in the US.
Your message of setting boundaries is perfectly timed though. I’m going to start thinking about spending my holidays (and my time, money etc) in such a way that I don’t feel the need to make big changes in my life on January 1st. Thanks!
Nancy Stobel says
I appreciate you addressing a fact of American life that has bothered me for many years. The massive excess of decorations and cheap plastic accessories that show up in stores at this time of year depresses me. What a waste of money and resources that will be forgotten in a few weeks. The holidays should mean re-estabishing loving connections with friends and family, not an exercise in massive consumption.
Merf59 says
I don’t understand- is someone forcing you to buy these things? Why are you letting the fact that this junk is for sale to people ruin this fun festive time of year for you and your family? Just don’t buy it if you don’t like it. Or buy one or two things you especially like or make something if you enjoy such a pursuit. We do a mix of a few of these things… it’s a free country…
Throughout history regular celebrations have been an integral part of both family and community life. It’s fun and you are the one who decides the right amount for you and your family so…. why rag on others for their ways of celebrating?
Rebecca | Seven2Seven8 says
Like so many other things, there are things which can be tools if used mindfully, and which are harmful if used in excess/mindlessly. I treasure our Thanksgiving routines, but it doesn’t mean we need to eat/drink excessively to enjoy the meals and company. And Black Friday/Cyber Monday, with advance planning, can help your holiday gift budget (if your family exchanges gifts, which mine does).
One thing I have done for a couple of the Halloweens we have celebrated with our children is buy well-made solid basic clothing and added decorations with double-sided tape and felt. When the holiday is over, we remove the decorations and the clothing goes into regular rotation. With few exceptions the items have been in great condition after many wears, and passed down or along for secondhand use. When we do buy items for the costumes, we keep the dress-up bin in mind so it can get extended use as much as possible.
Happy (and mindful) holidays to you!
Cindy Helton says
Timely … and oh so true! Thanks so much for this gentle “disclaimer” before the holidays begin.
Rafael Bichone says
Hi Joshua,
Today your email arrived in a perfect timming.
The point you make at Thanks Giving remarks the fact that we usually forget the main reason of the holiday and “discharge” our frustation in food and other stuffs.
To be alive, health and have a family is more than enough reason to celebrate, and I believe it’s a minimalism concept applied to holidays.
Thanks for all inspiration!
Ann Webb says
Halloween the beginning of the sugar consumption push that doesn’t end until Easter!
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Indiana Davis says
Joshua- I love this article. In the coming weeks, are you able to show how you decorate for the holidays in particular Christmas without the excess? Thanks- Indiana Davis
Rain San Martin says
I never grow tired of this message! As an adult I’ve made the decision to no longer exchange gifts. I celebrate the season of winter, enjoy classical Christmas music and mysterious lights in windows.