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- Halloween Postcard, "Merry Halloween," 1909 - A jack-o-lantern is a traditional symbol of Halloween. The tradition began in the Celtic regions of Europe, specifically Ireland, where people hollowed out root vegetables, such as turnips, and lit them with candles or burning coal or embers. As immigrants flooded into the United States in the 1800s they used the pumpkin -- native to America -- as a natural substitute.
- circa 1909
- Collections - Artifact
Halloween Postcard, "Merry Halloween," 1909
A jack-o-lantern is a traditional symbol of Halloween. The tradition began in the Celtic regions of Europe, specifically Ireland, where people hollowed out root vegetables, such as turnips, and lit them with candles or burning coal or embers. As immigrants flooded into the United States in the 1800s they used the pumpkin -- native to America -- as a natural substitute.
- Halloween Postcard, 1913 - By the late 1800s, a distinct blend of Halloween customs had emerged in the United States. The holiday was mostly an innocent celebration of mystery and fun into the 20th century, though traditions often reflected Halloween's supernatural origins. This colorful, spooky greeting postcard from 1913 alludes to olden customs and beliefs about the spiritual world.
- 1913
- Collections - Artifact
Halloween Postcard, 1913
By the late 1800s, a distinct blend of Halloween customs had emerged in the United States. The holiday was mostly an innocent celebration of mystery and fun into the 20th century, though traditions often reflected Halloween's supernatural origins. This colorful, spooky greeting postcard from 1913 alludes to olden customs and beliefs about the spiritual world.
- Halloween Postcard, "The Halloween Lantern," 1914 - Halloween's superstitious origins gave way to a national celebration of mystery and innocent fun in 20th-century America. Seasonal greeting postcards commonly exchanged by friends and neighbors during Halloween reflected a distinctly American blend of olden customs and modern life. This colorful example from 1914 combines traditional superstitious symbols with a contemporary automobile.
- 1914
- Collections - Artifact
Halloween Postcard, "The Halloween Lantern," 1914
Halloween's superstitious origins gave way to a national celebration of mystery and innocent fun in 20th-century America. Seasonal greeting postcards commonly exchanged by friends and neighbors during Halloween reflected a distinctly American blend of olden customs and modern life. This colorful example from 1914 combines traditional superstitious symbols with a contemporary automobile.
- Halloween Postcard, "A Starry Hallowe'en," circa 1915 - Halloween's superstitious origins gave way to a national celebration of mystery and innocent fun in 20th-century America. Seasonal greeting postcards commonly exchanged by friends and neighbors during Halloween reflected a distinctly American blend of olden customs and modern life. This colorful example from about 1915 features traditional superstitious symbols and a whimsical "airplane."
- circa 1915
- Collections - Artifact
Halloween Postcard, "A Starry Hallowe'en," circa 1915
Halloween's superstitious origins gave way to a national celebration of mystery and innocent fun in 20th-century America. Seasonal greeting postcards commonly exchanged by friends and neighbors during Halloween reflected a distinctly American blend of olden customs and modern life. This colorful example from about 1915 features traditional superstitious symbols and a whimsical "airplane."
- "Hallowe'en" Postcard, 1907-1908 - Halloween's superstitious origins gave way to a national celebration of mystery and innocent fun in 20th-century America. Seasonal greeting cards commonly exchanged by friends and neighbors during Halloween reflected a distinctly American blend of olden customs and modern life. This colorful example cleverly combines traditional symbols with a contemporary watermelon "automobile" - complete with a hand crank stem!
- 1907-1908
- Collections - Artifact
"Hallowe'en" Postcard, 1907-1908
Halloween's superstitious origins gave way to a national celebration of mystery and innocent fun in 20th-century America. Seasonal greeting cards commonly exchanged by friends and neighbors during Halloween reflected a distinctly American blend of olden customs and modern life. This colorful example cleverly combines traditional symbols with a contemporary watermelon "automobile" - complete with a hand crank stem!
- Halloween Postcard, circa 1913 - The first American Halloween gatherings were designed as matchmaking parties for young people, with games to "predict" matrimonial futures and ample opportunity for innocent flirtation. Friends and neighbors often exchanged seasonal greeting postcards - such as this colorful example from about 1912 - that depicted these holiday amusements.
- circa 1912
- Collections - Artifact
Halloween Postcard, circa 1913
The first American Halloween gatherings were designed as matchmaking parties for young people, with games to "predict" matrimonial futures and ample opportunity for innocent flirtation. Friends and neighbors often exchanged seasonal greeting postcards - such as this colorful example from about 1912 - that depicted these holiday amusements.
- Postcard, "Happy Hallowe'en," 1908 - By 1900, articles in magazines and newspapers had helped spread and popularize Halloween customs and images like jack o-lanterns, black cats, witches, or bobbing for apples to a national audience. Some people marked the holiday by mailing a Halloween-themed postcard greeting to family or friends. During the first two decades of the 20th century, sending postcards was an easy--and popular--way to communicate.
- 1908
- Collections - Artifact
Postcard, "Happy Hallowe'en," 1908
By 1900, articles in magazines and newspapers had helped spread and popularize Halloween customs and images like jack o-lanterns, black cats, witches, or bobbing for apples to a national audience. Some people marked the holiday by mailing a Halloween-themed postcard greeting to family or friends. During the first two decades of the 20th century, sending postcards was an easy--and popular--way to communicate.
- Postcard, "Joyous Halloween," October 29, 1910 -
- October 29, 1910
- Collections - Artifact
Postcard, "Joyous Halloween," October 29, 1910
- Postcard, "A Thrilling Hallowe'en," October 1909 -
- October 01, 1909
- Collections - Artifact
Postcard, "A Thrilling Hallowe'en," October 1909
- Halloween Postcard, "A row of Pumpkins," 1909 - A distinctly American blend of Halloween traditions emerged by the late 1800s. Into the 20th century, the holiday was mostly an innocent celebration of mystery and fun, but friends and neighbors often exchanged seasonal greeting postcards that evoked Halloween's superstitious origins. This colorful example includes a witch and a jack-o-lantern -- two symbols of Halloween's superstitious origins.
- 1909
- Collections - Artifact
Halloween Postcard, "A row of Pumpkins," 1909
A distinctly American blend of Halloween traditions emerged by the late 1800s. Into the 20th century, the holiday was mostly an innocent celebration of mystery and fun, but friends and neighbors often exchanged seasonal greeting postcards that evoked Halloween's superstitious origins. This colorful example includes a witch and a jack-o-lantern -- two symbols of Halloween's superstitious origins.