James McCoy, the organisation’s research director, said: “The massive amount of money consumers are already spending on Bonfire Night and Halloween would certainly be enough to make retailers sit up and take notice.
“But the really interesting thing about this report is that the number of people actively taking part is still rather low, and so the big opportunity for retailers is to get the high percentages of people who feel favourably about Bonfire Night and Halloween out celebrating, and of course spending money.”
Although less than a third (29%) of adults take part in an activity to celebrate Bonfire Night, held on 5 November, those who do will spend an estimated £386M.
Food and drink
About 12% of UK adults will either attend or host a bonfire party boosting spending on food and drink. The same percentage will buy fireworks to use at home or take to a party.
Of those surveyed, 29% expected to attend an organised fireworks display.
But nearly two-thirds (67%) of adults believed that fireworks should not be used at home. They agreed with the statement fireworks “should only be let off at properly organised displays”.
Halloween was less popular than Bonfire Night. While more than half (53%) of adults agreed that Halloween is a “fun event for kids”, only 23% will participate in an activity to celebrate Halloween.
£268M to celebrate Halloween
UK consumers were predicted to spend an estimated £268M to celebrate Halloween on October 31.
Only about 7% of UK adults planned to attend a party while only 4% expected to host a party.
About 8% of adults expected to carve pumpkins.
About 4% of UK adults planned to go trick or treating with children. While 7% of adults planned to dress up their children, only 6% expected to dress up themselves.
But not everyone enjoyed Halloween. Nearly half (45%) regarded Halloween as an “unwelcome American cultural import”.
Meanwhile, not everyone thought trick or treating was child’s play. A third disgreed with the statement that trick or treating is harmless fun for children.
Remember, remember
Bonfire Night commemorates the events of November 5 1605, when Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot , was arrested while guarding explosives laid beneath the House of Lords.
Halloween is a contraction of All Hallows' Evening observed on October 31, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows.
