Halloween Owl Full Moon Stars Jack-o'-Lantern Postcard

Halloween, as depicted in this early 20th-century illustration, synthesizes ancient traditions with emerging cultural practices. The holiday's roots lie in Celtic harvest festivals like Samhain, where themes of the supernatural, spirits, and the boundary between worlds were central. The jack-o'-lantern, originating from Irish folklore and initially carved from turnips, evolved into the pumpkin carving tradition in North America by the mid-19th century, symbolizing the harvest and warding off malevolent spirits. Owls, creatures of the night, traditionally signify wisdom and mystery, and became prominent Halloween motifs, aligning with the holiday's mystical and sometimes eerie atmosphere.