Every October, people transform themselves into witches, ghosts, monsters, and their favorite fictional characters. But why do we dress up for Halloween in the first place?
The history of Halloween costumes is surprisingly spooky. What began as traditions associated with spirits, disguises, and seasonal celebrations eventually evolved into one of Halloween's most recognizable customs.
Why Do We Dress Up for Halloween?
One explanation for Halloween costumes traces the tradition to Samhain (pronounced roughly "SOW-in"), an ancient Celtic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter.
According to folklore, Samhain was a time when the boundary between the living and the spirit world grew thin. People may have worn masks or disguises to impersonate spirits, confuse supernatural beings, or protect themselves from unwanted attention.
However, historians have limited written evidence describing exactly how ancient Celts celebrated Samhain. Many details about early costumes come from later folklore and customs.
Still, the connection between Halloween, disguises, and the supernatural has endured for centuries.
From Samhain to All Hallows' Eve
As Christianity spread through Celtic regions, older seasonal customs gradually became intertwined with Christian observances.
November 1 became associated with All Saints' Day, a Christian holiday honoring saints, while November 2 became All Souls' Day in Western Christianity, a time to remember the dead.
The evening before All Saints' Day was known as All Hallows' Eve, eventually shortened to Halloween.
Rather than a simple replacement of one holiday with another, modern Halloween emerged through centuries of interaction between religious traditions and local folklore.
Interested in the holiday's spiritual history? Explore the ancient Pagan roots of Halloween and Samhain.
Guising, Souling, and Early Halloween Disguises
By the medieval and early modern periods, several European traditions involved dressing up or visiting neighbors during seasonal celebrations.
In Scotland and Ireland, guising involved wearing disguises and going door to door, sometimes performing songs, jokes, or other tricks in exchange for food or money.
Another tradition, souling, involved visiting households to request food, including small pastries called soul cakes, sometimes in exchange for prayers for the dead.
These customs helped shape the modern practice of trick-or-treating, although its development was influenced by several traditions rather than one ancient ritual.
Why Were Old Halloween Costumes So Creepy?
If you've ever seen photographs of Halloween costumes from the late 19th or early 20th century, you may have noticed something unsettling: many look far more frightening than today's store-bought outfits.
Early Halloween costumes were often handmade using whatever materials families had available. Old clothing, sheets, cardboard, fabric scraps, and papier-mâché masks could transform ordinary people into ghosts, witches, demons, or other mysterious figures.
Unlike today's polished costumes, these disguises were frequently crude, exaggerated, and deliberately strange.
The grainy black-and-white photography of the era only makes them look more haunting.
While some costumes were playful, the emphasis on supernatural creatures reflected Halloween's longstanding associations with death, spirits, and the unknown.
When Did Halloween Costumes Become Popular in America?
Halloween celebrations grew in the United States during the 19th century, particularly as Irish and Scottish immigrants brought seasonal customs to America.
By the early 20th century, Halloween parties, community celebrations, and costume contests were becoming increasingly common.
Then came a major transformation: commercially manufactured costumes.
Founded in 1937, Ben Cooper, Inc. became one of America's best-known Halloween costume manufacturers. Companies began producing affordable masks and outfits featuring familiar characters from movies, television, and comic books.
Instead of dressing exclusively as ghosts or witches, children could become superheroes, cartoon characters, and other pop culture favorites.
As trick-or-treating became more widespread after World War II, mass-produced costumes became an increasingly familiar part of American Halloween celebrations.
What had once been a seasonal folk custom was becoming a major commercial holiday.
From Scary Monsters to Pop Culture Icons
Today, Halloween costumes are less about hiding from spirits and more about creativity, entertainment, and self-expression.
Classic monsters remain popular, but they're joined by celebrities, fictional heroes, viral internet trends, and elaborate group costumes.
Some people still prefer the frightening disguises associated with Halloween's supernatural history. Others treat October 31 as an opportunity to become someone, or something, completely different.
And while Halloween's religious associations remain important to some communities, many now celebrate it as a largely secular holiday.
Not everyone agrees about whether the holiday should be celebrated, either. The debate continues over whether Christians should celebrate Halloween.
A Tradition That Refuses to Die
Halloween costumes have changed dramatically over the centuries, from mysterious disguises associated with the spirit world to plastic masks and elaborate modern outfits.
Yet the central idea remains remarkably familiar: for one night, people get to become someone, or something, else.
Whether you're dressing as a ghost, a witch, or your favorite movie character, you're participating in a tradition with a surprisingly long and haunting history.
What is the creepiest Halloween costume you've ever seen? And do you prefer the frightening costumes of the past or today's creative disguises?
79 comments
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Shawn L. Rhodes
The creepiest costume that I saw was the actual clown suit from the movie IT.
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Laurie L Biggs
I have always celebrated "All Hollows Eve" and always will. The way I was taught, even by my very catholic grandmother was the costumes we dressed up in will scare away the ghost, ghouls and spirits that want to hurt us.
I have taught my kids and grandkids the same. The scarier the costume the better. And I always, when my kids were young, helped them make their costumes. Many a times, my sheets were used. But because of the customs I follow, I didn't mind.
Now, my children have children and my grandchildren are taught the same. AND they still make their own costumes.
The candy that night? Now a days, you can't make candied apples or brownies to give to kids because in the US, we were taught that that stuff could be poisoned, which I believe is bulls**t in most communities. I not saying ALL, but I believe in most they are safe. The neighborhood I live in, everyone looks out for everyone. And we are the most popular area to go "Trick or Treating".
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Roy S. Thorpe
Dressing up to get candy was fun! Then it became commercial like every other human holiday or getogether!
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obere mchugh
oh yes the memories of home made costumes always a wonderful trip down memory lane, we still make our childrens costumes as it is much more convenient as well keeping them warmer on those wonderful cool night. Also have the two fire pits ready to pass through to ward off and allow any trick or treaters or anyone really to pass through to cleanse. have several buckets of apples as well getting things ready to make carmel apples along with large cauldron to peel apple skin and drop into the water for those who will want to see whom there future spouse might be. While we do greatly enjoy the halloween celebrations as we have always viewed oct 31 as just great fun, we also greatly enjoy our samhain celebration within the cuveen it tends to be a very busy couple of day's i think far to many people get too serious this time of year and should just enjoy them selfs. beyond the standard trick or treating have been getting into the trunk of treat to to help out those parents and orgainzations that want a safer alternative to which i have no problem in helping out with. we still get very many children/adults to come to the house(covenstead/church) no matter what.
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James E Boyd
Whether we want to see the truth , or not Halloween has become a very dangerous night especially, for our children . We can no longer trust , just anyone giving children treats . Whatever you’d like to think is up to you , but there’s no denying .
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Rev. BH
"The percentage of genuinely harmful or poisoned Halloween treats given out by strangers is 0.0% (statistically zero), making deliberate stranger-danger tampering a modern urban legend." CBC news.
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Mother Elizabeth
How I wish that were true. Look it up.
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Rev. BH
Obviously, I did, Mother.
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Michael Hunt
Could you provide us some examples of this happening? All I have found are studies and articles which agree with Rev. BH. Poisoned Halloween candy is an urban myth.
https://www.joelbest.net/halloween-sadism
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Quinn R Amaro
I see this. Halloween and Thanksgiving and Christmas are a commercial venture. Halloween is no longer seen as it should be which opens the door for spirits and ghouls who no longer walk on earth are invited back to earth. I had a great costume idea as a bishop with a gross face dragging a machete. But I chose not to wear such a costume because that could very well cause a religious fanatic to shot me. But the question remains: Is Halloween based on fact from it's real creepy reality or is a fun family time for children to get free candy?
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Pastor George Day
Quinn R Amaro,
I think you do know the answer to that!
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SDA
Oh, yes. Religious fanatics are always shooting people on Halloween. The article explains the origins of Halloween.
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Jennifer Cash McGeoghegan
Oíche Shamhna!
Samhain (Sow en) because pronunciation matters.. Is the first Winter festival and is of Irish origin. There are still active traditions in the folk practice to this day. Most of the Irish are or identify as Christian. Even in pre history there was no "evil" in the celebration of this season. Samhain is the name if the month of November in Gaeilge (Irish). The themes going back to the earliest written records are harvest, ancestors, divination, and preparations for winter. It was a time for gathering the community and sharing in the final bounty before the long darkness. Often the herds were culled to feed families through the winter. The fires were bone fires (bonfire) because the ash helped enrich the soil. In earlier days it was the men who dressed up and went door to door singing and providing treats. The children were kept home and stories and music were made around the family hearth. Often a candle was left in a window for traveling ancestral spirits and a dumb/silent supper was left. This is the offering of an empty place at the table with a portion of the family meal. Left for ancestors who were not there in the flesh, but often prayed to for assistance and protection. Games were played like apple bobbing. I am an Irish pagan and I am also a historian and anthropologist. I would be more than happy to answer questions about the traditions and folklore around this celebration.
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Kevin Joseph Kervick
Quite interesting.
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Colleen Lawrence
I love Halloween! This is a very special time for me and my 7 yr old granddaughter. We have been going trick-or-treating from the time she moved in with me 6 years ago. We start months in advance deciding what we could do and be next year. And myself being 60 will continue as long as I am able and as long as my granddaughter is willing to spend this me.
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Joseph Edwin Plankinton Sr
The practice of going door to door for candy came from Hiawatha Kansas.
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Joy
This time of year is one of my favorites. I live an hour and a half from Disney World, and I try to go to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at least one time. This year is twice - going again this Friday. Adults can wear costumes. This Friday I'm going as Buddy The Elf.
Growing up my Catholic mom always encouraged us to go trick or treating and to wear costumes. I remember one year I went as some sort of a skull vampire or something?
And Ty Ford - love your comment LOL
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Pastor George Day
Joy,
See why some people say Catholics aren't proper Christians... Funny enough, they're the ones that then do exorcisms!
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Lester
Cool. I'm about 5 miles from Disneyland (California)
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Ty Ford
If Halloween were banished, what wold the candy makers do? Dentistry, as we know it, would be decimated!!! Oh, the HORROR!!!!
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Stephen Mohlaloga Makgoathane
I love your educational teaching, and also to thank you very much for having listed my Priesthood into your database. It is just unfortunate on my side that i do not have money,I would urgently put orders on things that i from your stores such as priest-shirts etc" Thanks Again for being your member. MAY THE GOOD 🙌 LORD BLESS. Thanking you in anticipation.Rev" STEPHEN MOHLALOGA MAKGOATHANE ( South Africa)
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Pastor George Day
Stephen Mohlaloga Makgoathane,
Welcome to ULC! :-)
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Douglas, I'm envious of you! That's never happened in my neighborhood. Is there a house for sale in your neighborhood? Please let me know.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
Homes don't come up for sale that often here. But if you are interested let me know. Or just be homeless as many other are. Google lists San Francisco as being THE best place to live if you are homeless.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Kristina, so you're the infant I saw falling off a besom while we were flying around the moon. I wondered where you fell to. Glad to know you're alright. Blessed be!
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Krystina S.
My parents have told me that, after a particularly stormy Halloween, early in the morning they heard a mewling sound at their front door. They opened it to find me, a little witch infant, who had fallen off the broomstick as the witches were ending their wild celebration. That is my origin story. Who's to say it isn't true?
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Pastor George Day
Krystina S.,
And then there are those who say the Bible is fiction! Go figure...
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Lester
I'd say her story is more likely.
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Sir Lionheart
Noooo! The Bible is very real, as is The Book of Mormon, and the Quran, and the Bhagavad Gita, and the Harry Potter books, I’ve definitely seen them so I know they are not fictional books. You can find them in many book stores. The stories contained within them might be the questionable issue. 🤭
🦁❤️
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Rev Ned
To quote Bugs Bunny, “Eeeeh, could be!”
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Douglas Robert Spindler
I liked Halloween as a kid, but as an adult Haloween has become one of the best holidays ever. I mean who doesn’t like women in sexy, revealing, skimpy outfits knocking at your door playing tricks all night long. The women who really let loose are ones who claim to be devout Christians the other 364 days of the year. I mean all they need to do is ask God for forgiveness until next Hollween when they can do it again.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
The last time I went trick or treating was about fifteen or so years ago (in my early forties), with a group of middle aged friends. Ofcourse, we were all wearing masks. And we only went to rich neighborhoods, so we really got a lot of candy that night!!! Next year I'll be sixty. That will probably be a good time to start doing it again. It's called staying in tune with your inner child, and is something that Ehrman and his silly Desiderata were totally ignorant of. So don't discard the things of youth, but get out there and have some fun! And be sure to only go to the rich neighborhoods.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
As I get older, I'm amazed at just how wild women can get on Halloween. Devout Christian women at a Halloween Party going topless. Not what I was expecting, but guess even devout Christian women get tired of living a prude life from time to time.
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Rev. BH
Douglas, why are you so concerned about attractive, "wild" women, Christian or otherwise? How did you know that topless women at a party were devout Christians? Did you ask them?
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Lester
Perhaps he knew a few of them before seen them there.
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Pastor George Day
Douglas Robert Spindler,
I applause your honesty! :-)
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Nicholas J Page
Trick or Treaters is now a thing of the past here in the UK I think it's a traditional custom that is dying out.Prices rocketing plus it's too dangerous for kids anymore shame really
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
If you can't afford to buy candy to give the kiddies Nicholas, try making candied apples, or popcorn balls.
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Candace Sue Singleton
Still takes money to buy caramel, apples and popcorn.
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Rev. B
I didn't realize things were that bad in the UK. Perhaps they could try getting a new PM. :)
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Lester
They can't afford one...
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Pastor George Day
Nicholas J Page,
Surprised? Isn't that what Samhain celebrates?
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Mother Elizabeth
Here in the U.S., at least where I live, the stores, police, fire department, etc give out the candy. There are still a few people who come around, but I’m hoping that will fully be replaced by the above.
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Robert Gagnon
I remember as a kid loving Halloween. I didn't think of religion or evil, just dressing up and gorging on candy simply by saying trick or treat. My daughter at the age of 2 was so cute in her devil outfit, she really cleaned up. Nether of us were ever possessed, or evil for that matter. I have to admit that these older outfits were pretty creepy. But the result had to be the same, kids having fun. I imagine these turn of the century kids couldn't wait for sundown.
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Theresa C. Marquess
Robert, I am 81 years old and still look forward to Halloween...I always will. My candy is in the bowl on the hall table awaiting the little goblins who will come to my door! Samhain is my favorite holiday and one of the best times of the year!
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Robert, I bet the vampire kids especially couldn't wait for sundown.
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Hector M Belen
Yes we had fun in the 60s
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Pastor George Day
Robert Gagnon,
When your daughter grows up and wants to transgress, you only have yourself to blame for sending out the message that evil is OK.
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Tami Tabone
That statement is ridiculous. I grew up dressing up for Halloween as did my kids. Watched acary movies with my mom and read scary novels. I am very spiritual, i am ordained, and have a Master's degree in Theology. My kids are adults. They are good people. I never turned into a witch or a demon. I wouldn't purposely cause harm to anyone or anything and even relocate mice if they get in my basement. So your assumption is way off base.
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Rev. BH
Ditto, Tami. "Evil is OK?" No, but Samhain/Hallowe'en is fine. Relax Pastor George.
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Lester
When you grow up please let us know who we have to thank.
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Mother Elizabeth
It doesn’t seem very Christian/religious to say that.
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Patricia Ann Gross
Pastor Day,
We all transgress. It is part of the human condition. Dressing up as a character has very little to do with it, it starts in the heart. Mr. Gagnon's experience with his child was celebratory, and all in fun. It had nothing to do with "evil" being condoned or even acceptable. Denying that evil exists is more dangerous than a child in a devil costume. Confronting evil face-to-face is the only way to defeat it.
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Reverend Kurt
My ex mother in law was the chief test pilot in the broom factory. She would really dress up at Halloween. I would look to the sky to see if I could see her fly over on her broom. All the years that I did not see her were good happy and bountiful years!
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Theresa C. Marquess
Kurt: Love your comment about your ex-m-i-l. Have a Happy Halloween and a happy, bountiful year!
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Daniel Gray
So what? If this is all you have to cry about then you live a very sheltered life.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Daniel, why did you address Cindy out of context?! You do so much better around here when transcribing laws right from a book, but when left to your own device you're often rude and your comments totally suck!
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Daniel Gray
I didnt. My point is if this is all she has to complain about then she should consider herself lucky as other people suffer far worse happenings and yet you dont see them here complaining. And as for being rude and the comments sucking, thats rich coming from you. I mean YOU were the one that the mods are watching and the one the mods called a troll. So maybe next time you want to try and chastise people, you should look at your own actions first
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Pastor George Day
Daniel Gray,
Where did you get this information? How do you know the moderators called Carl a troll? Did they tell you themselves?
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Daniel Gray
From the Moderators. I complained when Carl insulted my Native American Family and they sent me an email apologizing for his statements and removed it from the thread and then warned him that they would be watching him and anymore "troll like" actions would be dealt with severely.
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Pastor George Day
Daniel Gray,
I hear you, and I'm very sorry but happy that the Moderators have supported you.
Some people here are very damaged. They feel the need to do name-calling or throw a tantrum with racist comments just to validate themselves.
You just keep being YOU!
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Pastor George Day
Daniel Gray,
Please do get in touch when you see this. Here's my website https://www.theology-of-the-body-church.co.uk/contact-us
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Richard Darwin Richards
satan has many faces and disguises
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
sometimes he comes as a man of peace how do we know that you aren't satan? trying to lead all of us astray? maybe the guy that was nailed to a tree was satan, or the old man that wears that pointy hat in italy, or the smiling car salesman-like preacher who owns a mega-church, or the politician who claims to be religious but has never actually been religious, or the lady who claims everyone is going to hell if they don't listen to her, or to her god, or her book of fables.
you wanna know who satan really is? satan is the one who reaches out to children in need, to immigrants seeking a better/safer life for them and their children. satan is the one who will fight for everyone, even those who don't believe in him because satan is not vindictive, he is not psychotic, he is not malignant, he is not a child murderer, he is not incestuous, he is not greedy, he does not crave or covet, lie or mislead. satan offers a path that one can follow or not.
go and visit The Satanic Temple website, see what satanism actually is, what it stands for and what it does. use a vpn, that way satan can't find you... >{; )}
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
If you think so highly of Satan JJ why don't you capitalize his name? It is a proper noun, you know. You capitalize Santa, don't you? It's spelled with the the same letters, so wouldn't you agree that they're probably related?
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Lester
It's actually not. It's a Hebrew word that (roughly) means "accuser" or "adversary."
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Rev. BH
Sure, Carl. Satan and Santa are "probably related. News to me.
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Pastor George Day
Rev. Dr. Father JJ,
Those smart Satanists are wearing angel clothes to mislead naïve people like yourself. Go and ask the police. hey have more wisdom.
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Michelle Ebambi, O.S.C
Amen
MB
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Sir Lionheart
It sounds as though you are under the impression that the human construct of something called Satan is real Sir George. 🤭
🦁❤️
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Richard, that's only because there are many manufacturers of Satan Halloween costumes.
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Rev. BH
Carl, google-search "most popular Hallowe'en costumes" - didn't see any Satans.
Mostly K-Pop stars, princesses, Spiderman, Mario, He-Man, Gru - real creepy stuff like that.
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Cindy L Edgar
I celebrate All hallows Eve every year which nowadays would be called Halloween my ancestors have been celebrating for many years and years and thousands of years it goes way back before Christianity I enjoy this time every year and look forward to it every year and I will until the day I die
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Cindy, it's definitely my favorite Sabbat. I got a new bicycle last month, so I can ride around and look for ghosts to chat with. I do live in a haunted apartment, but the ghosts don't often manifest anymore. They know I'm alright with them being here, and vice versa,but I'm going to especially welcome them to manifest on Samhain, as I do every year. Sometimes they've even been known to play music through my ceiling fan on All Halos Eve. I'd very much like to hear that again. I have a CD by Llewellyn called Ghosts which I play every year on the Sabbat, while burning candles and incense ( usually nag Champa). This year I'll start extending the festivities through November first. Reading this article about Day Of The Dead reminded me that the veil between the living and dead isn't only the lightest on or day, but lasts atleast a few days, and starts lightening up even sooner. This is a good day for me to start watching my ghost show and movie DVDs again, such as Ghost Whisperer, Ghost Hunters (TAPS), and Topper, as well as a few others, and reads books I have such as When Ghosts Speak, and Buckland's book on spirit communication. Doing such things everyday for the rest of the month (and then some) will make it easier for me to experience more ghostly activity.
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Attention all Christians on this blog look at the topics that we have and how fast responses have added up from the top of Pagan rituals evil remnants and deviant actions. It shows all the Pagan and deviant believers on this blog site. This should alarm you and scare the hell out of you as well as invoke pity for they are and when they die hell is the only destination left. This is why we have such a problem here on this site with all of the naysayers, the deviants and the delusional fake bishops and fake pastors who claim to have flocks and have never preached a day in their life nor had they given their life to the LORD the Creator of everything. They have never given from their very life to those who have less. I say stand up now Reply below reply to my message and see what happens. They will go ape sh$* over this. Get over what is risked here and those who reply who don’t claim the one true God is everything. Take a stand for if you don’t stand for something you’ll fall for anything.
Dr. D
yup, its bad.
How is it that people have the designation of reverend or minister act like this?
BC
This Blog and these people should be terminated immediately They are a joke and should never be involved in leading anyone anywhere.
I suspect that you genuinely believe what you’ve written and I’m sure your intentions are well-meaning. However, I think there’s an important distinction between having a sincere belief and knowing that your belief is true.
The number of responses to a topic doesn’t demonstrate that people are evil, deviant or deserving of pity. It simply demonstrates that people have different interests, perspectives and beliefs. Disagreement with Christianity doesn’t make someone immoral any more than disagreement with another religion makes its followers immoral.
You also seem quite certain that you know who will end up in Hell. But how can any of us honestly claim to know the eternal fate of other people, particularly when humanity has produced thousands of different religious beliefs, many held with exactly the same conviction as yours?
I would suggest that standing up for something is admirable when it’s accompanied by humility, compassion and a willingness to question our own assumptions. But standing firmly by a belief, however sincerely held, doesn’t establish that it’s true.
Perhaps the most meaningful test of our character isn’t whether we profess the correct religious beliefs, but how we treat people who don’t share them.
You clearly feel strongly about your faith, and I respect your right to hold it. I would simply encourage you to extend that same freedom to others, without assuming that those who disagree with you are evil, deluded or destined for eternal punishment.
Confidence in a belief is not the same thing as evidence for it, and disagreement is not evidence of moral failure, but thank you, Dennis, for sharing what I can see you honestly believe to be true.
🦁❤️