Halloween is a beloved celebration filled with spooky fun, but its roots stretch back more than 2,000 years. As Chloe Stefani '24 beautifully outlines in her article The History of Halloween Costumes, published in Looking Glass on October 18, 2023, Halloween has evolved from a deeply spiritual tradition to the pop-culture-infused costume extravaganza we know today.
The Origins of Halloween
Halloween began with the ancient Celts, who celebrated Samhain on October 31st. This festival marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, a time they believed the barrier between the world of the living and the dead thinned, allowing spirits to return to Earth. To ward off these spirits, the Celts donned animal skin costumes during Samhain rituals, which Chloe points out as the origin of our modern-day Halloween costume traditions.
Fast forward to the Roman era, where Samhain was absorbed into their celebration of Feralia, a festival to honor the dead. Over centuries, the rise of Christianity transformed these pagan rituals into "All-Hallows Eve," eventually morphing into Halloween as we know it.
Halloween in America
In the early American colonies, Halloween celebrations were more subdued, with ghost stories and superstitions taking center stage. But by the 19th century, costumes became a staple of the holiday, influenced heavily by European traditions. As History.com highlights, it was during this period that American Halloween traditions such as trick-or-treating and ghostly costumes took off.
The Evolution of Costumes
As Halloween transitioned from a dark and spooky holiday to a more community-oriented event, costumes also evolved. In the 19th century, anonymity was key, with people wearing homemade costumes using whatever materials were on hand. By the early 20th century, Halloween became commercialized, with companies like Halco manufacturing costumes inspired by pop culture.
Today, costumes are more varied and accessible than ever. As CNN Style reports, popular costumes often reflect current movies, TV shows, and celebrities, with Halloween becoming a platform for creativity and expression.
Shop Spooky T-Shirts and Sweatshirts for Halloween
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For a more detailed look into the history of Halloween costumes, be sure to read Chloe Stefani’s full article here.