soft-shell crab exporter Vietnamese mud crab export

Find us on Google 📌 Divided times Start the day smarter ☀️ Get the USA TODAY app

A historical Halloween throwback: These photos just scream spooky fun

Sept. 22, 2025, 5:35 p.m. ET

Traditionally, the day gives children and adults alike the opportunity to transform into someone or something else. Trick-or-treaters and other participants don outfits, wigs and accessories to show off their disguises for the event. According to the Library of Congress, Halloween comes from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, a religious celebration to welcome the harvest at the end of summer. During the festival, people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. Later, in the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated Nov. 1 as All Saints Day, intending to incorporate Samhain festival traditions. The evening before All Saints Day became known as All Hallows Eve, and later, Halloween, per the Library of Congress.

Gary Davis and his sister Gina Rose find that grocery bags make a fine improvised costume for Halloween in 1963.

Pumpkins for sale for Halloween at New York in 1975.

An American family with a carved pumpkin illuminated by a candle to celebrate Halloween in 1955.

Children in costumes arriving at a Halloween party, circa 1960.

Children in costumes arriving at a Halloween party, USA, circa 1955. A sign on the door warns 'Beware Ghosts are within!'.

A little girl waiting at a window for the first guests to arrive at her Halloween party, USA, circa 1955.

Four children attempting to bite apples on a string at a Halloween party circa 1950's.

Trick-or-treaters Dejuan Scott And Lenis Sowell in 1985.

Fog created an eerie Halloween-like setting as Thomas and Jean Okruhlica took their 10-year-old daughter, Michelle, (wearing a white coat) and nieces and nephews to visit a pumpkin patch in 1984.

Eager children raced off in search of Halloween goodies in Greenfield, Wisconsin in 1969.

Third-grader Melissa Hamann dressed as a ghoul as she and other Washington School pupils paraded through the streets of Wauwatosa, Wisc. during their Halloween parade in 1984. The costumed kids were led on their journey by the school's band.

Trick-or-treaters checked their loot between stops on a South Side neighborhood. The youngsters were Kevin Crum (left), 9 and his cousin, Joe Crum, 10 in a 1970 photo.

More than 500 candle-lit jack-o-lanterns created by Gordon S. Falk of Whitefish bay were on display at Schoolhouse Park, Wisconsin. In 1987.

Michael Geboy (4) became a three headed monster for the Halloweened-themed Goblin Parade, that was sponsored by the Upper Center Street Business Association in 1984.

There was nothing grouchy about Kevin Sender (2) except his costume as he scoured the neighborhood around the 3700 block of 14th St. for Halloween handouts in 1984.

Halloween goblins check their loot...from left, John, 7, Gary Comardo, 5, and Jeffery Schorsch, 7, all of Price Hil, Ohio, Oct. 31, 1966.

It comes as quite a shock to a feller to be quietly shopping in a store and find a monster behind the counter. The startled customer is Corky Savely, left, and the "monster" is Carol Williams, a saleslady of Woolco at 100 Oaks Shopping Center Oct. 30, 1969. All the Woolco sales employees were decked out in costumes for Halloween.

The goblins were out in force Oct. 30, 1976 to celebrate Halloween and triplets Anji, Andy and Brittney, all 5, didn't miss out on the fun. The children of Capt. And Mrs. Andrew Guy of Fort Campbell were trick-or-treating in Hendersonville with relatives.

Phyllis Reed, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Reed, is dressed as a witch. She is pictured with Alice Reinhard, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William L. Reinhard, dressed as Cinderella. Published in the News & Leader on October 30, 1960.

Mrs. Albert W. Gaines, right, of Glen Echo Road watches two young spooks make off with a trove of candy on their Halloween trick-or-treat trip about the neighborhood Oct. 31, 1962. The masked â€œbanditsâ€ appearing quite happy with their treats at the Gainesâ€™ house, are Sally, 10, and Jim Sheridan, 7, children of Dr. and Mrs. W.F. Sheridan of Glendale Lane.

Brant Davis, 13, wears an E.T. mask while his friend, David Ward, wears a monkey mask on Oct. 29, 1982.

Melanie Strother, left, and Ann Bell, right, are entertaining guests at a Halloween party on Oct. 25, 1963, in the Imperial room at the Imperial House on Bosley Springs Road. Bobbing for apples with the hosts around the serving table are Barbara Allen Strother, second from left, Philip Kerrigan, John Michael Seigenthaler and June Gold.

People pass through the Jaycees' haunted house on Oct. 30, 1977, on Fort Bragg, N.C.

Halloween parade in the Green Valley Estates neighborhood in Fayetteville, N.C. on Oct. 28, 1978.

Throwing themselves into the fun, Jamia Osburn, left, and Wally Burke bob for apples at the YMCA Halloween carnival in Henderson, Kentucky in 1976.

Alicia Rockey was a picture of witchful thinking as she trick-or-treated in 1992.

Ashley Troklus, 2, got a little bored waiting for a costume contest to begin in 1986.

Glen Sherrerd used wood, cardboard, wire, paper and just about anything around to create a collection of fictional characters in his front yard in 1964.

Featured Weekly Ad