This Halloween, life-sized Labubu dolls , Wicked characters, and heroes from KPop Demon Hunters will be unleashed across cities and towns nationwide. But while pop culture trends influence today’s All Hallows’ Eve costume choices, earlier ones were worn to ward off evil spirits during Celtic festivals.
Let’s take a step back in time and explore the fascinating, frightening history behind popular Halloween costumes…if you dare.
Ancient Origins
The practice of dressing up in Halloween costumes can be traced back over 2,000 years to the Celtic festival of Samhain. Marking the onset of winter and the darker half of the year, the Celts believed that the boundaries between our world and the “Otherworld” blurred on October 31 and November 1.
While some people donned animal heads and skins to scare off spirits, others offered food and drinks to the Pagan gods.
Centuries later, in medieval Ireland and England, people dressed as the dead and went door-to-door offering prayers in exchange for “soul cakes.”
Starting in the 15th century, people would wear costumes and recite songs or verses for food. Called “mumming” or “guising,” this custom laid the foundation for the trick-or-treaters we know today.
America and Mass Media
The first wave of Scottish and Irish immigrants arrived in the US in the 18th century, bringing their Halloween traditions and superstitions with them. However, efforts were made to “domesticate” celebrations to reflect Victorian-era morality. Halloween was celebrated privately, and only children were expected to participate.
Eventually, people of all ages were once again embracing annual Halloween festivities. Rural Americans were especially drawn to terrifying costumes that revolved around death. Their DIY get-ups were made with whatever they had on hand, including sheets, makeup, and improvised masks.
In the 1920s and 30s, Halloween masquerades were hosted in family homes or rented salons, and celebrated by kids and adults alike. It was during this time that pop culture started influencing costumes. The J. Halpern Company began licensing fictional characters, including Mickey Mouse, Popeye, and Little Orphan Annie.
However, by the mid-1940s, there were again efforts to recast Halloween as a holiday for younger children and discourage adults from participating. This was mainly due to Halloween pranks and vandalism becoming more common.
In the 1950s, manufacturing Halloween costumes had become big business. With the rise of television, privately-held corporation Ben Cooper, Inc. started collecting the licenses and mass-producing costumes of many live-action TV show characters. By the 1960s, Ben Cooper, Inc. owned up to 80% of the Halloween costume market!
It was around this time that adults started dressing up in costumes again, and their focus was more on fun than frightening. But 1970s and ‘80s splatter-horror flicks like Halloween and A Nightmare on Elm Street reignited the demand for scary outfits.
Modern-Day: From Celtic to Capitalistic Celebrations
Halloween costumes have seen a dramatic journey over the centuries. Evolving from animal hides and heads to scare off spirits to handmade ensembles centering around death, and finally to mass-produced outfits of cultural icons, Halloween costumes have always been a reflection of the times.
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