What the F#*k is a Boo Basket?
If you’ve been on TikTok or Pinterest in the past couple of years, chances are you’ve stumbled across the latest seasonal relationship trend: the boo basket, and no, this isn’t about Casper pulling up with flowers (dated Halloween media references, anybody?) it’s a basket, usually curated by girlfriends, wives, or boyfriends, stuffed with Halloween-themed goodies. We’re talking cozy pumpkin blankets, bat-print socks, limited-edition Reese’s in spooky shapes, spooky-scented candles, and maybe a Starbucks tumbler that looks like it was designed by a witch with an Etsy account.
On the surface? Adorable. Who doesn’t love a basket full of treats and a reason to celebrate spooky season? But dig, a little deeper, and boo baskets are also yet another pressure point in the ever-expanding list of “couple goals” moments we’re all supposed to perform online. Like many Instagram-worthy trends, they’re equal parts sweet …. often times self serving … and exhausting.
The Rise of the Boo Basket
Once upon a time, Halloween was about carving pumpkins, watching It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, and inhaling a concerning amount of fun-sized candy bars (shout out to mini Milky Ways btw.) Now, thanks to Pinterest boards and TikTok hauls, spooky season has gotten a glossy upgrade. Boo baskets started as a cutesy DIY idea, something simple like tossing your partner’s favorite candy in a basket with a goofy card, but fast forward to today, and suddenly it’s all about carefully curated, color-coordinated collections of seasonal merch that look like they should be sponsored content for Target.
The kicker? The more “aesthetic” it looks, the better. Boo baskets have evolved into their own mini competition, not just between couples, but between internet personalities who need to flex how “thoughtful” (read: how much money) they’re willing to spend on their partner. It’s giving: “photogenic IG grand or it didn’t happen.”
The Pinterest-ification of Romance
We live in a world where almost every aspect of our relationships is fair game for online content, and boo baskets are the perfect storm of cozy vibes and couple goals. Here’s the thing though: the whole Pinterest-ification of romance can be exhausting. It’s one thing to surprise your partner with some Reese’s Pumpkins and a cute blanket, it’s another to feel like you’re failing because you didn’t drop $200 on a basket worthy of a flat-lay photo shoot.
The trend puts pressure on couples, especially younger ones, to constantly up the ante on seasonal gifting. It’s no longer enough to just exist together and enjoy spooky movies, now you’re supposed to curate an entire “experience” with products that will inevitably go back in storage (or the donation pile) by November 1.
Consumerism in Costume
Let’s call it what it is: boo baskets are just another way for consumerism to sneak into your relationship disguised as romance. Retailers love this trend because it encourages people to buy seasonal, often unnecessary items, things that look great for a week but have little long-term value. Pumpkin-print throws? Cute. But do you need three of them by year’s end? Probably not.
Tbh, most of these baskets are filled with highly seasonal items that aren’t exactly versatile. You’re not rocking bat-print socks in April or sipping out of a skeleton tumbler in July (I mean, I do, but that could very well just be me) which means a lot of boo basket goods eventually end up shoved in closets, donated, or worse, in the landfill. It’s a sweet gesture, sure, but at what cost?
Boo Baskets and “Relationship Goals” Culture
Part of why boo baskets blew up is because they photograph beautifully. They’re made for social media, perfectly arranged, wrapped in cellophane, lit with soft fall candlelight. They scream, “Look at how thoughtful I am!” Which is fine, if you’re into that ... I guess, but the flip side is that they become another unrealistic expectation for couples.
If you don’t make your partner a boo basket, are you less thoughtful? Are you less romantic? Obviously not, but scroll long enough and you’ll see couple after couple posting their perfect boo baskets, and suddenly you’re wondering if your bag of Sour Patch Kids and a hug don’t quite measure up. It’s the same toxic cycle we’ve seen with Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, even proposals (ESPECIALLY proposals,) romantic gestures turned into public competitions.
A Kinder, Cooler Way to Boo Basket
Here’s the thing: boo baskets don’t have to suck. If you genuinely want to make one for your partner because they love Halloween and it’ll make them smile? Do it! But do it with intention. Skip the performative, Pinterest-perfect vibe and focus on personal touches that actually mean something.
A boo basket doesn’t need to cost a fortune. Grab their favorite candy, thrift a spooky mug, toss in a handwritten note. Maybe include a classic horror DVD you’ve been meaning to watch together or plan a pumpkin patch date. It doesn’t have to be Instagrammable to be meaningful. In fact, sometimes the simplest, least “aesthetic” gestures are the most special. (I LOVE having phone free time with my husband, we do enough phone time laying on the couch together!)
Boo baskets are a perfect example of how internet culture takes something sweet and turns it into a competition fueled by consumerism. They can be a fun way to celebrate the season, but only if you’re doing it for the right reasons. Don’t build one just because TikTok says it’s what good partners do, build one because it makes your partner smile, and because it adds joy to your Halloween, not because you want to flex online or max out your credit card for a basket full of seasonal clutter.
So yes, make a boo basket if you want to. Just do it for the spirit of spooky season, not the spirit of racking up debt or outdoing strangers on the internet … because honestly? Your relationship deserves more than being reduced to a fall-themed gift basket.
