Halloween and the Future of Vertical Cities: A Look at Traditions and Futuristic Living

In the United States, Halloween is a big deal, with the average person spending about $92 on decorations, costumes, and candy each year. The fact that it’s the second-largest commercial holiday in the country just shows how seriously it’s taken. In 2022, Americans broke the record by spending $10.6 billion on Halloween-related items. However, in the UK, Halloween doesn’t have the same level of popularity. While the holiday is thought to have origins in Celtic traditions, the celebrations there are less focused on decorations and more for kids.

In the U.S., pumpkins are everywhere by early September—on porches, in store windows, and grocery stores. But in the UK, they’re mostly confined to the produce section of grocery stores. Corn mazes are another example of how Halloween traditions differ. In the U.S., corn mazes are a popular fall activity, but they’re hard to find in the UK. Also, starting in October, U.S. TV networks air Halloween movie marathons. These range from family-friendly films like *Hocus Pocus* to horror movies like *Friday the 13th* or *Scream*. While nothing stops UK residents from watching these films, it’s uncommon to find a nationwide Halloween movie marathon.

When it comes to costumes, the U.S. takes things up a notch. The tradition of wearing costumes on Halloween began in 1911, and by the 1930s, mass-produced costumes were sold in stores. Today, wearing costumes, regardless of age, is a crucial part of the holiday. In 2021, Americans spent nearly $3.3 billion on costumes alone. Kids often dress in any costume they like, whether it’s Halloween-themed or not—princesses and superheroes are popular choices. In contrast, costumes in the UK are typically more horror-themed, like ghosts, vampires, and zombies.

However, the U.S. isn’t without its costume restrictions. In places like Dublin, Georgia, it’s illegal for anyone over 16 to wear a costume that covers their face. If these restrictions don’t suit you, head to Derry in Northern Ireland, where Halloween is celebrated with a four-day carnival featuring haunted houses, parades, and more. Similarly, New York City's Village Halloween Parade, drawing over 2 million spectators annually, is one of the U.S.'s most iconic Halloween events.

In the U.S., the Halloween spirit permeates everything, from breakfast cereals to themed snacks and drinks. In the UK, however, you’re lucky to find a few pumpkin-shaped cookies. The U.S. also has a wider variety of treats like Snickers, Reese's Pieces, peanut butter cups, Skittles, and candy corn. These aren’t readily available in the UK, where candies from local brands like Cadbury and McVitie’s dominate.

In Ireland, another Halloween tradition is the baking of a special sweet bread called Barnbrack. This loaf, containing dark and golden raisins, often hides a small object, such as a ring or toy. Whoever finds it is said to be blessed with good fortune in the year ahead.

When it comes to Halloween activities, trick-or-treating is the highlight in the U.S. It’s such a big deal that families prepare candy in advance, and kids can be seen knocking on doors throughout the day. In some U.S. cities like St. Louis or Des Moines, children have to perform a trick or riddle to earn their candy. Interestingly, the term "trick-or-treat" likely originated in central Canada before becoming widely used in the U.S. in the 1930s.

In Scotland and Ireland, however, Halloween’s traditions remain rooted in ancient Celtic customs like “guing,” a precursor to trick-or-treating. This practice, from the Celtic festival of Samhain, involved dressing up to ward off spirits and offering food to appease otherworldly beings. By the Middle Ages, this morphed into “mumming” or “souling,” where poor people would visit wealthier homes, performing plays in exchange for food. By the 15th century, people in parts of Britain, Southern Germany, and Austria would go door-to-door asking for soul cakes, promising to pray for the souls of the homeowners’ deceased relatives.

The phrase "trick-or-treat" didn’t gain widespread popularity until the 1980s, thanks in part to the release of the film *E.T.* It wasn’t even embraced in Ireland until the 2000s, where children used to say “help the Halloween party” instead.

Switching gears, let’s explore the concept of "arcology"—a futuristic idea for housing cities in massive, self-sustaining skyscrapers. This vision, coined by architect Paolo Soleri in 1969, combined architecture and ecology. Arcologies would house entire communities within a single structure, with everything residents need—schools, offices, markets—located inside. No more traffic jams, and everything would be within walking distance. In these vertical cities, people would farm on rooftops and use hydroponics to grow food. These farms would also provide water vapor for residents’ use.

The concept aimed to reduce the land area used for urban living by 90%, preserving natural surroundings. Soleri envisioned a future where cities would blend harmoniously with nature, providing better quality of life by promoting community interaction and collaboration. However, for those who are not fond of close contact with neighbors, the communal lifestyle in an arcology might not be appealing. After all, when you live in such proximity to others, privacy can be scarce.

In Arizona, Soleri tried to put his ideas into action by creating Arcosanti, a smaller, experimental city designed for 5,000 people. Although the project hasn’t been fully realized, the community at Arcosanti continues to thrive, with about 45 people living there year-round. They work as artisans, crafting bronze and ceramics, and are committed to sustainable living practices. Arcosanti operates on a "learn by doing" model, with hands-on experiences forming the core of the community’s values.

A real-life example of a vertical city exists in Whittier, Alaska, where the entire community lives in a 14-story building known as Begich Towers. The building contains everything from post offices to classrooms and grocery stores. It's a small-scale version of the arcology concept, providing residents with everything they need under one roof. However, it’s a bit more isolated, with a tunnel that closes at 10:30 p.m., contributing to a feeling of separation from the outside world.

These examples of vertical cities raise the question: Can we fit entire communities into a single building? The answer seems to be yes, at least in places like Whittier, Alaska. Whether or not this is the future of urban living, the idea of arcology challenges us to think outside the box when it comes to addressing overpopulation and sustainability.