The Brief: Spirit Halloween memes celebrate Halloween 'spirit' through semi-ironic appreciation of pop-up Halloween retail stores.
DEEP DIVE
As Spirit Halloween retail stores pop up in abandoned buildings across the county, so are memes about these spoopy stores. Founded in 1983, Spirit Halloween is a Spooktober staple for many Millennials and Gen Z-ers. Owned by Spencer Gifts, Spirit Halloween has approximately 1,400 stores around the United States and Canada. As many Halloween parties and festivities are canceled this year due to COVID-19, Spirit Halloween stores remain open.
One common joke about Spirit Halloween stores is that they seem omnipresent in autumn, replacing recently closed stores like Toys R Us or suddenly appearing in seemingly-abandoned strip malls. The franchise is known as a quintessential hub for needless consumerism, supplying cheaply made costumes, spooky animatronics, and plastic decorations. Spirit Halloween memes highlight the cultural significance of these seasonal retail locations and how people are getting ready for the holiday.
https://twitter.com/OfficeMemes_/status/1309185407947595777
Spirit Halloween when they hear about major retail stores closing down pic.twitter.com/b2vYcB8muT
— cal? (@cal_gif) September 24, 2020
For those who simp for Spirit:
— alex Ⓥ (@artichokehartz) September 29, 2020
This @SpiritHalloween in the corpse of a Hobby Lobby is really a win for gays everywhere pic.twitter.com/bXdkkf243Z
— Seth Kobs (@sethito_bandito) September 30, 2020
It’s true that it’s hard to beat the 12-foot Home Depot skeleton.
Imagine being a full size skeleton at Spirit Halloween Store and women are talking about the 12 foot tall Home Depot skeleton making you self conscious about your height like you’re a straight guy on tinder.
— Shayne Smith (@Shaydozer) September 29, 2020
girls don’t want a boyfriend they just want someone to drive them to spirit halloween
— rylei 🐁 (@ryleitaylor) September 24, 2020
I hope I live to see the White House be a Spirit Halloween
— Christin Bailey (@hexprax) September 26, 2020
White House Now a Spirit Halloween Store Until Early November pic.twitter.com/n6iYU59B6f
— Keaton Patti (@KeatonPatti) October 17, 2018
I haven’t had sex since March and I’m thinking of turning the unused space in my vagina into a Spirit Halloween store
— Sydney Leathers (@sydneyelainexo) September 26, 2020
Unsurprisingly, Among Us crewmate costumes are pretty popular this year:
Spirit Halloween when they see all of their astronaut helmets are sold out for seemingly no reason pic.twitter.com/7XGZW8GMFs
— Moderately Okay Cosplay (@ModeratelyOkCos) September 27, 2020
On TikTok, creators are showing off what they’ve bought in Spirit Halloween haul videos.
@virghoexoxo spooky scary #spirithalloween #haul
Don’t miss @zzzachariah’s impression of “Every mom the first week of Fall:”
@zzzachariah Every mom the first week of Fall 🎃 #momlife #halloween #fyp
When everything turns into a Spirit Halloween store:
@thomassanders It’s That Time of Year Again 🎃 #halloween #comedy #relatable #fyp #spirithalloween