Halloween Traditions

Early in American history, any kind of Halloween celebration was less common in New England than in the Southern colonies and was usually part of autumn harvest celebrations. It wasn’t until the second half of the 19th century that the Halloween became a popular time for parties. In Quincy, as in the rest of the United States, those celebrations were neighborly get togethers. Churches, civic organizations and schools held parties to celebrate the occasion.

On October 31, 1923, the Woman’s Page of the Quincy Whig-Journal devoted several articles to Halloween celebrations. The Quincy Country Club held a dance featuring the Seifert orchestra and “A company of 60 ghosts, all looking so much alike that it was impossible to tell who was who… .” Another article listed the various groups who were holding parties. These parties consisted of dancing, games, decorations, and food such as popcorn, cider, and donuts. St. Peter’s had a ghost walk for several blocks before hosting a party.

Quincy Daily Herald called their social page Women’s Interests. Their October 15, 1923 issue mentioned a Carthage social planned for Halloween with a pumpkin pie as the price of admission. The October 25, 1923, page reported on a country dance and box supper at the Spring Lake Country Club on Halloween. Most of these parties catered to adults. The paper’s October 26, 1923 Women’s Interests page featured two articles by “Sister Mary.” In one, old fashioned Halloween games were party suggestions. Nuts was a game which involved roasting chestnuts and naming them after your three best beaus, waiting for one to “pop the question” as they cooked. Oracles consisted of a shrouded character in a dark corner who answered questions. Swedish Lunch was described as a spookier game where odd shaped and textured objects were passed around under a table. The players had to leave the table when they dropped an object.

The Daily Herald’s October 25, 1923 social page listed a dance and card party with a Halloween theme held at the Western Catholic Union. Orange and black streamers and lighted Jack-O-Lanterns decorated the Knights of Columbus Hall. Another article on the same page featured the various entertainments for children to be held at nine Quincy schools. These events were sponsored by the teachers and/or the Parent Teachers Associations. One October 25, 1923, article stated, “Quincy schools have a happy custom of entertaining at this season, and the frolics are fun for the children.” Some parties were after school and some in the evening. Jackson school had a gypsy fortune teller, a convention of witches and a play put on by the students. Emerson also had a play by the second-grade students and sold “homemade candies, pies, lolly pops, and cider.” Webster planned an entertainment with the school orchestra and “social dancing.” Madison’s teachers planned their party with a “witches well” and a fish pond.

Not to be out done, Washington School advertised a “weird entertainment in keeping with the Hallowe’en season… a house of freaks, the fattest lady, the thinnest lady and the bearded lady.” They also planned a parade of spooks and witches with the students in costume. Candied apples, peanuts, cider, and donuts could be purchased. None of these entertainments mentioned trick or treating or candy bags. 

The school events seemed to get even more elaborate with Jefferson School planning “a real circus with trained animals, clowns, and acrobats. … and afterward Hallowe’en ally will be opened for the sale of refreshments and the enjoyment of side shows.”

Halloween parties at schools, churches, and organizations continued throughout the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. Halloween candy was mostly homemade, even though candy corn dates back to the 1880s. Because most of America was rural, candy corn was made to look like chicken feed. By 1900 chocolate bars were not considered a luxury but rather a treat for all. Trick or treating was organized in the 1930s mostly because vandalism and pranks were becoming dangerous around the Halloween celebrations, but candy and popcorn were usually part of the treats for a party, not given out door-to-door. World War II sugar rationing stopped trick or treating but then it took off after the war because of the mass production of candy. Candy companies promoted their goods to baby boomer parents which resulted in trick or treating becoming a truly nationwide event by the late 1940s. During October of 1947, The Herald Whig said, “Although Halloween is still nearly two weeks away, the ‘trick-or-treat’ boys and girls are already up and at ‘em. If you haven’t as yet become a victim of the trick-or-treat racket, don’t gloat. There’s still plenty of time.”

Russell Stover advertised “candy for trick or treat’’ on October 27, 1950 in the Quincy Herald Whig. One large Kroger ad published in the Herald Whig, October 22, 1953 listed free Halloween masks if you purchased a five-pound bag of apples, “the kind trick or treat callers like the best.” In 1959, candy cigarettes were advertised by Woolworth’s on Maine Street as “ideal for trick or treat.” 

Halloween had a less savory reputation among certain religions. Pranking and destruction of property was a worry, and police reports would list what “unruly boys” had done in the community. Later came the scares of tainted candy. 

UNICEF, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, founded in 1946, began the practice of trick or treat for UNICEF. The October 29, 1957 Herald Whig said, “Quincy Churches of all denominations are joining in this new style Halloween celebration that is planned to give the children lots of fun and help a worldwide cause.” Children would go door-to-door with special containers to collect coins. Traditions change but Halloween endures.

Sources

“Bright Spots in the Day’s News.” Quincy Herald Whig, October 17, 1947, 10.

 “Children ‘Trick or Treat’ Wednesday for UNICEF.” Quincy Herald Whig, October 29, 1957, 14.

“Circus At Jefferson School Will Draw Crowd Friday Night.” Quincy Daily Herald, October 26, 1923, 4.

“Country Dance and Box Supper at Spring Lake Next Wednesday.” Quincy Daily Herald, October 26, 1923,

 4.

“Gay Assembly Of Ghosts At Event At County Club.” Quincy Whig-Journal, October 31, 1923,4.

“Ghosts, Games, ‘n’ Punkin Pie for Your Hallowe’en Party.” Quincy Daily Herald, October 26, 1923, 4.

“Halloween Begins at Woolworth’s.” Quincy Herald Whig, October 21, 1959, 8.

“Halloween Candy.” Quincy Herald Whig, October 27, 1950, 14.

 “Halloween Dance And Card Party Of St. Barbara Branch.” Quincy Daily Herald, October 25, 1923, 4.

“Halloween Social.” Quincy Daily Herald, October 15, 1923, 2.

 “Halloween’en Merry Making in Many Homes and Hall of City Tuesday Evening. Quincy Whig-Journal, 

October 31, 1923,4.

“Halloween’en Parties in The Schools.” Quincy Daily Herald, October 25, 1923, 4.

History.Com Editors. Halloween 2023, Halloween 2023: Origins, Meaning & Traditions | HISTORY

The History of Halloween (October 2001, Volume 52, Issue 7) n:60737 (americanheritage.com)

History of Halloween: The Meaning, Origin and Why We Celebrate – NBC Chicago

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Nix, Elizabeth. “The Haunted History of Halloween Candy. The Haunted History of Halloween Candy | HISTORY

Sheidlower, Noah and Radhika Marya, “Halloween Food traditions go way back-and didn’t always involve candy.” Halloween candy and food traditions throughout history | CNN