Halloween Exhibit
Archaeology Exhibit
HALLOWEEN, THE “COURTING HOLIDAY”?
Halloween traditions in the United States are rooted in ancient Celtic customs and superstitions. The Celtic year ended on October 31 and began on November 1, reflecting the change of season from summer’s end and the harvest, to the beginning of the long, cold dark winter. People believed, that on this night of changeover from old to new year, the veil between life and death was thin and could be penetrated. So, the Celts celebrated the season’s change with feasts and festivals, and welcomed the spirits of dead friends and family. The Scottish and German immigrants, also, brought their autumn tales of ghosts, witches, elves, and gnomes to this country.
Early Christianity added its influence as well. Desiring to eliminate pagan celebrations, it replaced the winter festival with a holiday honoring the saints. November 1 became “All Hallow’s Day,” and the evening before became “All Hallow’s Evening” and eventually, Halloween.
Halloween was also known as a “courting holiday”. Young people believed it was a perfect time of year to find a few stolen minutes together before the winter set in. They’d gather in front of a fire, drink fermented malt and tell ghost stories. The harvest was gathered and it was a good time for wooing and wedding. There was nothing like a good scary story to make one’s girl snuggle a little closer. Treats were often brought for the younger children in the family to ensure a few moments of privacy.
Dressing in costume traces its origin back to Scotland in the mid 1800’s when children would go out seeking treats. The practice was known as “guising” – as in disguising.
Originally, the European immigrants used turnips and other fruits and vegetables as decorative outdoor lanterns to welcome participants to harvest celebrations. The Germans seem to be the ones that first developed commercial “lanterns.” The earliest lanterns were made of pressed paper and had cutouts for the eyes, nose, and mouth. Openings were often backed with pieces of thin, colored paper that would “light up” when a candle was placed inside the pumpkins. By the 1920’s, pressed and formed paperboard was used, followed by papier-mâché in the 1930’s. Plastic became the material of choice in the 1950’s. Tin noise makers (for scaring away ghosts) were made as early as the 1920’s; however, most were made by the U.S. toy makers J. Chein & Co. or T. Cohn during the 1930’s and 1940’s.
After World War I, and as early as the first few years of the 20th Century, American companies began to make Halloween decorations. The Dennison (Paper) Manufacturing Co. was a leader in Halloween productions. From 1912 to 1924 they published an annual “Bogie Book” which showed which products the company had available and offered ideas for Halloween decorating and entertaining.
Halloween is now the second most collectable holiday, only being surpassed by Christmas collectables.
