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Spooky season starts sooner: Society's "Summerween" explained.

Halloween isn't just for freeloading, candy-grabbing kids anymore; it's now a fest for patriotic, freedom-loving consumers. Summerween empowers us to support local businesses by buying spooky stuff during the partisan panic of global warming. It's truly a capitalist's dream: a new holiday that pads corporate pockets and prolongs our childhood obsession with fairies, ghosts, witches, and alternate realities. Liberals are always screaming, "Don't scare the children!" Well, this time, let freedom ring with the spine-chilling screams of youngsters reveling in the capitalist candy land we helped create. Sure, some might call this another chaotic consequence of climate change, but we know it's really about keeping America weird, wild, and profitable. So, this Summerween, grab your wallets and ghostly garb, and let's make some horror history—cash registers blazing. Boo-yah!

Published August 7, 2024 at 3:01pm by Mary Walrath-Holdridge

Scorching Summers and Skeletons: How Americans Are Beating the Heat with 'Summerween'

Americans are sweating their way through another extreme summer, but some are finding unique ways to stay cool, like shopping for 12-foot skeletons to display in their yards. Enter "Summerween," a brilliant blend of summer fun and spooky season shenanigans.

What's Summerween?

Originally a quirky idea from the animated show Gravity Falls, Summerween has now taken on a life of its own as a pop-culture phenomenon. It gives Halloween lovers a chance to embrace their inner ghost or ghoul a little early. No more waiting for that sweet October spookiness—Summerween lets you bring out the skeletons and scare up some fun in the sun!

Retail Therapy for the Scorching Season

Retailers have caught on to this growing trend, offering spooky fans a chance to beat the heat with some festive retail therapy. Walk into any craft, home goods, or grocery store in July, and you'll see Halloween décor alongside the bathing suits. It's a genius move by stores to cater to our desire for a little seasonal escape, and it's working!

Halloween's Slow Creep into Summer

When did Halloween start encroaching on our sunny days? According to Lance Allen, Senior Product Merchant of Decorative Holiday at Home Depot, it's all about giving the people what they want:

"Our Halloween launch is strategically timed to match the growing excitement among our dedicated fans. With trends like 'Summerween' gaining popularity, it's evident that customers are enthusiastic about planning their Halloween displays well in advance."

Home Depot became the go-to Halloween hotspot in 2020 with its viral 12 ft. skeleton. Since then, they've been releasing their Halloween collection online in July, and their in-store event in April is like a spooky "Christmas in July."

Other retailers like Target and Lowe's are joining the fun, offering early online sales and previews in July. By mid-August, you'll be hard-pressed to find a store that isn't embracing the Halloween spirit.

The Holiday Season's Ever-Expanding Empire

Joel Davis, Executive Director of the David F. Miller Retail Center, explains that holiday shopping used to be a last-minute affair, even for Christmas. But things started to change around World War I, when early shopping was encouraged to relieve supply chain stress.

Now, retailers depend on holiday sales for up to 30% of their annual income, and they're always looking for new opportunities. With Thanksgiving blocking their path, they turned to Halloween as the next best bet to spread out those sales.

A Peek at This Year's Halloween Trends

Data shows that Halloween is definitely becoming a summer affair, with sales peaking earlier each year. This year, Amazon saw a sales surge in early August, a whole six weeks earlier than 2019's peak.

So, what's hot for Halloween 2024? Well, get ready for a pastel scare with Pinkoween, a cute and creepy trend flooding stores like Target and Michaels. Summerween itself is also a trend, proving that people are serious about embracing the spooky season early. Dark romance and spooky spaghetti are also on the rise, and don't be surprised if you see a Ghostbuster or two this year!

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