How To Know the History of Halloween Costumes

The history of how Halloween costumes began will be best understood by knowing how Halloween itself started and evolved through the years.

The first costumes were made of animal skins and heads. Halloween began with the Celts who lived in the Celtic regions of the United Kingdom, Ireland and northern France. The Celts celebrated Samhain during the evening of October 31st to ward off the ghosts of the dead by sacrificing harvested food and burning these during bonfires. They also wore costumes like animal heads and skins in the belief that this would ward them away.

Samhain celebrations of the Celts. Christian missionaries came to the Celtic region during the early centuries of the first millennium and attempted to change the way Samhain was celebrated, because this was a pagan practice.

The Roman celebration of Feralia in the year 400. The Romans conquered the land and hekd it for 400 years. The Roman holiday called Feralia, celebrating the passing of the dead during late October, was celebrated together with Samhain.

November 1st was declared as All Saints' Day during the year 800. About the year 800, Pope Boniface IV declared November 1st as All Saints' Day, which was intended to replace the Celtic festival. The night before November 1st was then called All-Hallows Eve and eventually called Halloween. This event was celebrated like the Samhain with bonfires and parades where the people wore angels, saints and devil costumes.

Halloween customs in America during the 1800s. These Halloween customs were brought to America during the 1800s when early European settlers came there. Although the celebration was limited, community events celebrated the harvest by telling stories about their dearly departed, fortune telling, dancing and singing. Ghost stories and mischief were introduced during the Colonial times.

The Irish came to America during the mid-1800s. Halloween celebrations became more popular when the Irish came to America in the mid-1800s, bringing with them their traditions, including the celebration of Halloween.

Start of Trick or Treat. The American people began dressing up in costumes during Halloween, consolidating the traditions brought by the first settlers and the Irish. What was practiced then was going from one house to another while asking for food. While the people were doing this, they were also dressed in costumes. This was the start of trick or treat.

Halloween during the late 1800s. American communities celebrated Halloween with ghosts, making pranks, having parties for both the adults and the children. The celebration evolved from being a religious as well as superstitious one.

Halloween during the 1920 and 1930s. By this time, parades and parties were celebrating Halloween. It was during this time that the first store-bought costumes were made available, whereas before, costumes were elaborately made and hand sewn by the parents. Most of the costumes then were of ghoulish and spooky themes because of the association with the first celebrations of Samhain. Children became more active in joining the celebration, along with their parents.

Popular costumes. Some of the popular costumes were vampires, witches, devils and monsters. Anything that creepy, spooky, and frightening was a hit.

Modern-day Halloween costumes. Modern-day Halloween costumes are cuter and more fun. Movie characters, pirates, fairies, clowns, superheroes and even community helpers are some of the popular choices.

The celebration of Halloween and the donning of costumes is a part of many cultural traditions that have been handed down and have evolved through the years. Halloween costumes give people a chance to have fun dressed as other people, and it is a time to be together and celebrate with people in the community.