The first Halloween costumes were of Celtic origin and date back over 2,000 years. The Celts’ new year began on November 1, marking the end of the summer harvest and beginning the winter (a time they associated with death). The day before the new year, October 31, the Celts believed the ghosts of the dead returned to earth and marked the occasion with a celebration known as Samhain. At this festival, the Celts lit bonfires and wore costumes of animal heads and skins while attempting to tell each other’s fortune. It is these costumes that are the predecessors to our modern day Halloween costumes.
What was the first Halloween costume?
The first Halloween costumes were of Celtic origin and date back over 2,000 years. The Celts’ new year began on November 1, marking the end of the summer harvest and beginning the winter (a time they associated with death). The day before the new year, October 31, the Celts believed the ghosts of the dead returned to earth and marked the occasion with a celebration known as Samhain. At this festival, the Celts lit bonfires and wore costumes of animal heads and skins while attempting to tell each other’s fortune. It is these costumes that are the predecessors to our modern day Halloween costumes.