Hallowe'en has The Force
Editor’s note: A mischievous ghost got into The Press computer system and, in Thursday’s paper, reprinted a Halloween column by Sholeh Patrick that was first published in 2011. Here’s this year’s rendition.
• • •
Tomorrow the young and young at heart freely frolic in sugar-filled fantasy. Under the dimmed light of a shrouded moon, ghosts and ghouls, vampires and vamps roam in search of spirited sustenance at our obliging doors. Well, ghouls and vampires anyway. Trailing the hordes of Stormtroopers.
Yes, Star Wars is the No. 1 theme this year, in advance of the much-anticipated new movie. So say online costume retailers BuyCostumes and Costume Super Center, confirmed by the national chain Spirit Halloween for the bricks-and-mortar stores. While new characters such as Kylo Ren, Finn, and Rey sold best, Chewbacca, Princess Leia, and of course, Darth Vader still make appearances. Another movie character, Harley Quinn, is especially popular in Alabama and Tennessee.
But would it surprise you to know that in most states, Halloween classics remain the No. 1 costume choices, whether bought, made, or blended? An online poll of 40,000 Americans by social media site Influenster found simplicity still rules the day, with top choices varying by state.
Zombies: Top in Idaho, as well as Alaska. The undead makes perfect sense as Halloween’s historical origins are about melting the barrier between living and nonliving.
Skulls and blood-suckers: Along the same lines, and perhaps due to the rise of Latin-American culture, are “sugar skulls,” or the calavera from Mexico’s Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead and All Souls Day are Nov. 2). Look for those elaborately decorated skeleton-faces at your door Saturday; they’re the top-ranking costumes in New Mexico and Arizona. Virginia and Texas go for regular skulls. Rounding out the macabre is South Carolina with vampires. Bram Stoker, not “Twilight.” Ew.
Good guys: At the other end are those protecting the living, such as nurses (Kentucky and Louisiana) and cops (Utah and Missouri). Mississippi prefers the heavenly variety: Angels.
Crowns: Little girls will always fancy dresses. Princesses in general rule in Kansas and South Dakota. New York and Indiana prefer Snow White; Florida and Georgia, Pocahontas; Ohio and West Virginia, Cinderella. "Frozen" princess Elsa reigns in New Hampshire and North Carolina. Okay, so she’s a not a princess, but girly Alice of Wonderland fame dominates Arkansas and California.
Superheroes, meow: What is it about boys and turtles? In Washington and Rhode Island, it’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles galore. Maryland and Vermont love Wonder Woman. Delaware and D.C. host Batman, but Catwoman prowls in Michigan and Wyoming. Connecticut and Iowa simply prefer cats.
Witches and pirates: That’s magic (Black and White; there is a difference) in Montana and Colorado, and “aaargh!” in Wisconsin and Hawaii.
Flappers, fairies, and mermaids, Oh My: Is it Gatsby’s east-coast setting that makes New Jersey and Maine flapper girl havens? Fairies fly in Massachusetts and Nebraska; mermaids wiggle in Minnesota and Pennsylvania.
Minnie Minions: Cheers to Disney original Minnie Mouse, still popular in Oregon and North Dakota. Sound-alike movie Minions maraud Oklahoma and Illinois.
Squash: Gotta love Nevada, keeping it simple with pumpkins.
Mmm. Pumpkin doughnuts.
Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network; email Sholeh@cdapress.com