Practiced on

Samhain, Halloween

Country of Origin 

England, Ireland, Scottland as a Halloween Tradition

Key Points / Halloween Connection

- Wearing of ritualistic costumes was occuring well before the 5th century during the ancient Samhain festivals with a focus of creatures, spirits, fairies and demons

- Today, costumes are worn for mostly theatrical and enjoyment purposes with the costumes themselves being based on everything from ancient horrifying terrors to pop culture and historical figures

Brief Bio

The custom of wearing Halloween costumes may have originated in the Celtic Samhain festival held on October 31 to mark the beginning of winter, at which costumes were worn to ward off evil spirits. 

After the Christianization of Ireland in the 5th century, some of these customs may have been retained in the Christian observance of All Hallows' Eve in that region. Although the festival continued to be called Samhain and Calan Gaeaf, it blended ancient traditions with Christian ones. The time of year was seen as liminal, when spirits or fairies and the souls of the dead could more easily come to the world of the living.

From at least the 16th century, the festival included mumming and guising, which involved people going door to door in costume or disguise and usually reciting verses or songs in exchange for food. Originally, this may have been a tradition in which people impersonated the Aos Sí or the souls of the dead and received offerings on their behalf. Impersonating these beings or wearing a disguise was also believed to protect oneself from them.

It has also been suggested that the mummers and guisers "personify the old spirits of the winter, who demanded reward in exchange for good fortune". Paritipants of ancient pagan festivals included people wearing masks or costumes to represent the spirits, and faces were marked or blackened with ashes from the sacred bonfire.

It has also been suggested that the wearing of Halloween costumes developed from the custom of souling, which was practiced by Christians in parts of Western Europe from at least the 15th century. At Allhallowtide, groups of poor people would go house to house, collecting soul cakes—either as representatives of the dead or in return for praying for them. The Christian tradition of acknowledging the danse macabre is also suggested as the origin of dressing up on Halloween.

The custom of guising at Halloween in North America was first recorded in 1911, when a newspaper in Kingston, Ontario reported children going "guising" around the neighborhood. In 19th century America, Halloween was often celebrated with costume parades and "licentious revelries." However, efforts were made to "domesticate" the festival to conform with Victorian-era morality. Halloween was made into a private rather than public holiday, celebrations involving liquor and sensuality were de-emphasized, and only children were expected to celebrate the festival.

Early Halloween costumes emphasized the gothic nature of Halloween and were aimed primarily at children. Costumes were also made at home or using items (such as make-up) that could be purchased and utilized to create a costume. In the 1930s, A. S. Fishbach, Ben Cooper, and other firms began mass-producing Halloween costumes for sale in stores as trick-or-treating became popular in North America. Halloween costumes are often designed to imitate supernatural and scary beings. Costumes are traditionally those of monsters such as vampires, werewolves, zombies, and ghosts. Popular culture began to influence costumes after World War II as costume production became more prevalent. By the late 20th century, television and movie characters, adult themed, and "campy" costumes rose in popularity with the participation of more adults.