Davis Co. Halloween Postcard "A Very Merry Halloween"
Halloween, rooted in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, evolved into a secular holiday blending autumn harvest traditions, folklore, and supernatural themes. Its modern celebration gained significant traction in North America during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, transforming into a community event with distinct imagery. Postcards from this era, particularly the "Golden Age" (roughly 1898-1918), played a crucial role in disseminating and standardizing holiday iconography and greetings like "A Very Merry Halloween."
The postcard's visual elements, including the prominent jack-o'-lantern, a child, and a black cat, are hallmarks of early 20th-century Halloween folklore. Jack-o'-lanterns, adapted from European traditions of carving turnips and beets to ward off malevolent spirits, became widely associated with pumpkins in North America. The black cat, a centuries-old symbol linked to superstition and witchcraft, served as a classic Halloween motif, contributing to the holiday's playful eerie aesthetic as it transitioned into a more child-centric celebration.
The postcard's visual elements, including the prominent jack-o'-lantern, a child, and a black cat, are hallmarks of early 20th-century Halloween folklore. Jack-o'-lanterns, adapted from European traditions of carving turnips and beets to ward off malevolent spirits, became widely associated with pumpkins in North America. The black cat, a centuries-old symbol linked to superstition and witchcraft, served as a classic Halloween motif, contributing to the holiday's playful eerie aesthetic as it transitioned into a more child-centric celebration.
