Halloween in the United States began in colonial New England but was a scarce celebration at first because of the Protestant belief systems. The holiday was mainly celebrated and recognized in Maryland and other southern colonies. As time went on, the beliefs of European and American Indians combined, which created an American version of Halloween. This version of Halloween began with the introduction of “play parties”, which were public events held in honor of harvest season. People would tell stories of the dead, predict each other’s fortunes, and sing and dance. During the second half of the 19th century, America was flooded with Irish immigrants who helped popularize the Halloween celebration.
The Start of Trick-or-Treating
By borrowing European traditions, Americans began roaming from home to home wearing costumes and asking for food or money, which evolved into trick-or-treating. The young women around this time actually believed that they could discover the name and appearance of their future husbands through yarn tricks, apple parings, and mirrors. During the late 1800s, America turned Halloween into a holiday that was more about community and get-togethers and less about ghost stories and pranks. At the turn of the century, Halloween began focusing on food, games, and wearing costumes. Believe it or not, parents were actually encouraged by community leaders to remove anything scary or frightening from these celebrations.
Halloween Parties
During the 1920s and 1930s, Halloween was a community-centered holiday that included parades, holidays, and entertainment. Unfortunately, vandalism began to spread during the celebrations within these communities. When the 1950s came around, vandalism was successfully limited, and the holiday became targeted towards younger crowds. Due to the 1950s baby boom, Halloween parties became popular in classrooms rather than in previous places like town civic centers. During this time, trick-or-treating was revived and became a fun and inexpensive way to spread the joy of Halloween. Families thought trick-or-treating could be a solution to prevent tricks from being played on them, so instead, they provided neighborhood children with candy and treats. Finally, a new American tradition was born and has grown continuously into what it is today!
The Success of Halloween Movies
Halloween movies have helped the holiday skyrocket into popularity as well. Movies like “Halloween” featuring the frightening Michael Myers have gained the interest of movie-goers and have become a holiday tradition enjoyed every year to lift the spirits of the spooky season. Other popular films that have uplifted Halloween into success are “Nightmare on Elm Street”, “Friday the Thirteenth”, “Beetlejuice”, and so much more!
Get Into the Halloween Spirit By Visiting Nights of the Jack Next Fall
The Halloween holiday dates back centuries and has revolutionized into a loveable holiday that many look forward to every year. It’s not too late to begin planning your next trip to Nights of the Jack in Calabasas, CA, where the holiday spirit comes alive like nowhere else! Join in on the Halloween tradition by visiting us next fall, and be sure to buy your tickets here once they go on sale! For further information, be sure to fill out our contact form today!