Today in History

Today in History: October 31

Happy Halloween!

Pumpkins and a haystack in front of a house.
House in Horse Creek decorated for Halloween,
Horse Creek, West Virginia,
Lyntha Scott Eiler, photographer,
October 5, 1996.
Tending the Commons: Folklife and Landscape in Southern West Virginia

…I heard a rustle in the hall. It sounded like the swish of a taffeta skirt. I looked up at the door and saw the figure of a woman go past. She had on a black taffeta dress and I didn't see any head. I called out, "Who's there?" Of course, nobody answered…. Just as the figure reached the door of the living room, it disappeared.

"Ghost Story,"
Interview with "Mrs. Laura M.,"
Dorothy West, interviewer,
November 18, 1938.
American Life Histories: Manuscripts from the Federal Writers’ Project, 1936-1940

On the night of October 31, many Americans celebrate the traditions of Halloween by dressing in costumes and telling tales of witches and ghosts. Children go from house to house—to “trick or treat”—collecting candy along the way. Communities also hold parades and parties.

Halloween, also known as All Hallow’s Eve, originated as the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, meaning “summer’s end.” The autumnal holiday, rooted in Christian and pagan festivals—with elements of magic and mystery, celebrated the link between seasonal and life cycles (winter was then a time associated with death).

Halloween is now celebrated worldwide and reflects the assimilation of various cultures. In the twenty-first century, it has become a secular, and hugely commercial holiday.

Halloween Visitors
October's "Bright Blue Weather":
Chicago, Illinois,
Albert M. Bender, artist,
(Date stamped on verso),
August 30, 1940.
By the People, For the People: Posters from the WPA, 1936-1943

Visit American Memory collections for more information about Halloween.