Happy Halloween!

Posted by Leslie on October 31st, 2007 | No Comments

According to MadameTalbot.com, Halloween began when the Celts marked the end of summer and start of winter. They also believed the dead revisted the world on that day and thus would dress as ghosts and devils to disguise themselves, thereby ensuring the real spirits would not carry them away.

The Irish would carve turnips into cheap lanterns. If one kept a lit, carved turnip lantern in the window, it would drive away evil spirits. In America, turnips weren’t so plentiful and so pumpkins were used instead.

By the the later 1800s upper and middle class Victorian Americans downplayed the Irish Catholic connections. However, back then, the parlor games and Halloween parties were intended for Victorian adults, not children. And I don’t think candy corn was served either.

By the way, you can buy the above poster at Madame Talbot’s site for $14.95. Free shipping to the US and Canada.