Halloween In The 1920's

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A typical Halloween party in the early 1900s was a grand affair, often featuring theatrical plays presented in either the parlour or the barn. The party schedule was elaborate, with activities to entertain guests of all ages. By the mid-1920s, there was a surge in the publication of amusing booklets for Hallowe'en, with a significant portion of the material catering to children's activities. These events were often held on a larger scale, more suitable for public venues like schools or community centers than private homes. Activities included recitations, skits, brief dramas, and exercises, such as "The Jack-o'-Lantern Drill," published in 1926: This exercise routine, designed for young boys, involved them wearing regular suits or dressing …show more content…

The Halloween Fun Book, published in 1937, suggests a shift towards more organized and supervised Halloween activities for children. The preface advocates for cooperation between parents and leaders to make Halloween a festive and carefree holiday, promoting house-to-house parties, costuming activities, and the emerging tradition of trick or treating. Until 1937, the term "Halloween" was commonly spelled with an apostrophe, as in "Hallowe'en." However, after 1937, the apostrophe began to disappear, marking a shift in the spelling of the holiday's name. While it made occasional appearances in the 1930s and 1940s, by 1948, the apostrophe had largely been abandoned. Chapter 13 Ruth Edna Kelley's Halloween In 1919, Ruth Edna Kelley, a 26-year-old American librarian, authored The Book of Hallowe'en, which marked the first serious historical treatment of the festival. Published by Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, a renowned firm known for children's books, literature, and mythology, the book was a departure from the typical Halloween entertainment pamphlets of the time. Its beautiful gilt-decorated cover, illustrations, index, and bibliographic references reflect a serious scholarly approach. Kelley's book is a treasure

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