It’s the season. Like every fall, skeletons come out of closets to adorn the lawns of American homes on the eve of Halloween. But in recent years, there has been a race for gigantism. Home Depot, the DIY store chain, launched in 2020 a huge 3.65 meter skeleton with fluorescent blue eyes called “Skelly” which became a best-seller despite its price: count on 299 dollars (280 euros) to purchase. get it. Even bigger than “Skelly”, “Jack Skellington”: 4 meters high in a striped suit, inspired by the character from the cartoon The Nightmare Before Christmas who sings and dances for 399 dollars (375 euros). There is also “The Inferno”, a less “decomposed” character with a sort of flashing membrane around his chest and has a pumpkin as his head. Other skeletons greet you by wiggling their jaws: “Welcome to my home! Be careful when walking, I don’t want you to break a bone. But if that happens, you could borrow one of mine.”
It’s not just the skeletons that have reached dizzying sizes. Inflatable dragons and zombies are getting bigger and bigger. This year, the gardens are invaded by apocalyptic cobwebs made of rope which climb to the roofs of the houses and are teeming with red critters…
But undoubtedly it is “Skelly” which is the most successful. It’s out of stock again. Is it because it was launched in the middle of a pandemic at a time when people were bored? The frenzy for XXL decorations also coincides with the explosion of Instagram and TikTok. Users find it very funny to post photos of “Skelly” that they take on walks to the sea, to their wedding, their barmitzvah… The stars are not left out.
Above all, many now leave it in their garden full time, because it is not easy to dismantle and you need plenty of space to store the pile of bones. They disguise him like this according to the seasons: as Santa Claus, as a rabbit for Easter and as the Statue of Liberty for the 4th of July. This skeleton invasion does not please everyone. In several neighborhoods, the residents’ association has decided to ban them outside of Halloween under penalty of a fine. Not to mention the attacks. Sometimes the fear is real. In Ohio, thieves stole the arms of at least three skeletons. One of them collapsed in a terrifying clash of bones that woke up the entire neighborhood.
Halloween has never been more popular, according to the National Retail Federation. 73% of Americans plan to celebrate it this year compared to 69% last year. This enthusiasm is partly due to the fact that this festival traditionally reserved for children now attracts all ages. Even pets get involved. Sales of pumpkin and hot dog dog costumes are expected to reach $700 million. As for those for adults, they are now higher than those for children. Among the fashionable outfits this year, Barbie and Ken, accessorized in zombie style.
Distributors have understood this well. They put their new products on the market in the summer. Halloween spending is expected to reach a record $12.2 billion this year, up 15% from 2021, according to the Federation. That’s a per capita budget of $108! “More Americans than ever will spend a record amount to celebrate Halloween,” summarized Matthew Shay, the president. And this despite high inflation. The price of sweets increased by 7.5% compared to last year and by 20% compared to 2021, due in particular to the increase in the price of sugar and cocoa.
Most frightening for skeleton enthusiasts is the persistent rumor that Home Depot might cease production of Skelly and send him back to his grave. The department store chain did little to reassure them. “I know there are rumors about Skelly retiring but we haven’t made a decision yet,” the spokeswoman said. “To be continued next year.”
