Posted by: John S Kiernan

It’s the spookiest time of the year, when superstition runs rampant and treats always come with the potential for a trick. But like with anything else, the more you know about Halloween, the less scary it seems. Did you know, for example, that ringing doorbells and lighting candles are thought to ward away witches, ghosts and evil spirits? And how frightening can haunted houses really be when charities operate 80% of them?

Even if you’re not prone to spooking, there’s always something interesting to learn about Halloween. For instance, 18% of people plan to put costumes on pets, and 72% of parents admit to stealing candy from their kids. And that’s just the beginning. To ease your fears and help you gain a new appreciation for this hallowed holiday, WalletHub explored Halloween from all angles.

Below, you can find an infographic filled with the best Halloween facts we could unearth. That’s followed by an Ask the Experts panel discussion on the economics of Halloween. And finally, you can see where your hometown ranks in our report on the Best Cities for Halloween.

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Embed on your website<a href="https://ift.tt/2dDMHF1"> <img src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/posts/55278/halloween-2018-by-the-numbers-v6.png" width="" height="" alt="" /> </a> <div style="width:px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="https://ift.tt/2yVETqg>

Ask The Experts: Exploring the Finances of Fright

For a different, more serious take on Halloween and the cottage industry that revolves around it, we posed the following questions to a panel of experts. You can check out their bios and responses below.

1. What are the biggest Halloween money-wasters?
2. What measures should parents take to ensure their kids are safe when trick-or-treating?
3. What are some healthy treats or nontraditional goodies that kids might actually enjoy?

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• Laura Froyen Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Human Development and Family Studies and Early Childhood and Parenting Specialist, University of Wisconsin – Madison
• Julie K. Nelson CFLE – Assistant Professor, Field Coordinator, Family Science – Utah Valley University
• Reina Engle-Stone Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition, Assistant Nutritionist in Agricultural Experiment – Station University of California, Davis
• Sally B. Hunter Ph.D. – Clinical Assistant Professor, Advising Coordinator for Community Outreach – Department of Child and Family Studies, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

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