Study Finds That Gen Z Takes Halloween Much More Seriously Than Millennials

A new study has determined that Gen Zers take Halloween festivities much more seriously than millennials.

The study, conducted by One Poll on behalf of candy company Hi-Chew (via Study Finds), interviewed 1,000 Gen Zers and 1,000 millennials who regularly celebrate Halloween. It found that 42 percent of Gen Zers take holiday gatherings “very seriously” compared to just 34 percent of millennials.

Both generations agree that the top three elements for a great Halloween party include decorations (63 percent), food (61 percent), decorations (50 percent).

However, 67 percent of GenZ years expect candy on Halloween, while only 43 percent of millennials seek sweet treats. The study found that more than half of Gen Zers put great effort into curating the perfect candy bowl for Halloween functions. Nearly two-thirds of all respondents said they would be remiss if there wasn’t candy at the Halloween party they attended. But 30 percent of Gen Zers were more likely to be “very disappointed” without candy, versus 20 percent of millennials.

The study also shed some light on the favorite candies eaten across both groups. A surprising 61 percent preferred fruity; 59 percent said they wanted something chewy; and 57 percent loved chocolate candy.

Likewise decorations are extremely important to Gen-Z, with 61 percent believing good design determines the fate of the evening. Skeletons, cobwebs, fake spiders, jack-o’-lanterns, and bats were thought to be the most effective decor. In comparison, less than half of millennials feel decorations are important.

When it comes to interior design, you can hang on to your black cats and candles. More than a quarter of those surveyed felt those are outdated. Millennials have also tired of haunted houses, while Gen Z says it’s had enough of witches.

Costumes seemed to be the most important element to both groups, but especially for Gen Zers. More than two-thirds of respondents believe they could feasibly win a costume contest, while a nearly equal amount said it’s imperative their costume remain pristine for the entire event. On the other hand, 41 percent admit that an imperfection in their costume or makeup would cause them to leave early. An additional 22 percent said they would be mad if someone else wore the same costume as them, especially if the other person wore it better.

One Poll’s research comes soon after another poll conducted by the National Retail Federation on behalf of Daily Mail found that overall Halloween participation will be up this year. In that study, 73 percent of respondents said they had plans, up from 69 percent in 2022.