Masks at McCulloch’s Costume and Party Supplies store.
Dressing up in costumes is an important part of Halloween. Amber Lloyd Langston is curator of Regional History in London. Langston says that the first written record of children dressing up in costumes and going out was in Vancouver in 1898. Since then adults have joined in on the fun.
“What used to be pretty much exclusively a kids holiday has become a billion dollar industry a year thanks to adults.”
Langston says that according to a statistic from 2014, Canadians spend 70 dollars more per capita than Americans on Halloween. Making it the most lucrative holiday after Christmas.
Rose McCulloch.
Someone who agrees with this is Rose McCulloch, Co-owner of McCulloch’s Costume and Party Supplies store. McCulloch says that adults from 20 to 30 years of age are buying the most costumes. McCullochs has been open since 1962, and has seen the evolution of Halloween costumes
“Going back 30 years ago, everybody was just witches and goblins and clowns, just your normal masquerade. But more and more it’s being influenced by movies and even video games.”
Costumes and traditions may change over time, but McCulloch explains one thing that hasn’t.
“The fun thing about Halloween and something that hasn’t changed over the years is dressing up for Halloween allows you to be someone you’re not on a daily basis.”
