09/11/2026
Halloween in America: A Brief History
In 2023 I wrote a fascinating piece on the origins of Halloween and it’s pagan roots back 2,000 years to modern-day Ireland. It (probably) changed the lives of many, saved marriages, and inspired a generation. But what about the history of Halloween in the United States? Well, strap in, dear reader!
Colonial Era – Prior to the 19th century, staunch Protestant doctrine in New England made for little observation, although Southern "play parties" existed, with ghost stories, fortune telling, and lighthearted tomfoolery.
1800s – The Irish Potato Famine of the 1840s spurred mass migration to America, bringing with it the Celtic culture that celebrated Samhain - the earliest root of Halloween. Samhain not only marked the end of harvest, but the belief the spirits of the dead were returning to Earth, thinning the boundary between life and death. At this point it was very different, heavily steeped in rituals such as bonfires, food offerings, the donning of animal skins, and even divination and witchcraft. As the 1800s wore on, it evolved into neighborhood-friendly parties and games that were more centered on community than the supernatural.
1900s–Present – Halloween saw further domestication and popularity, with trick-or-treating becoming a feature. In cities in the '20s, however, the more mischievous roots resurfaced, leading to pranks, vandalism, broken windows, and even minor violence. It got worse during the Great Depression, as economic hardship led to more aggressive tricks. Trick-or-treating was actually created to stifle such activities — if kids didn't play a "trick," they'd get a "treat" (you can't make this stuff up...). After the end of WWII and the subsequent explosion of children, safe, post-war suburbs were the perfect ground for the evolution of Halloween from a pagan ritual into the ubiquitous, multi-generational, highly commercialized holiday that spans from costumes to living rooms, decorations, candy, theme parks, schools, workplaces, the film/TV industry, and so much more.
