Halloween Three Women Dressed as Witches Real Photo Postcard

Halloween, evolving into a widely celebrated secular holiday with prevalent costuming, saw its popularity surge in Britain and North America during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This era solidified the iconic imagery of witches, complete with pointed hats, cloaks, and associated supernatural elements, transforming figures from ancient folklore into festive symbols. Studio portraits capturing individuals or groups in costume became popular mementos of these burgeoning holiday traditions.

The costumes in this photograph showcase characteristic early 20th-century witch motifs, featuring symbols such as the crescent moon, frequently linked to mysticism, and the black cat, a traditional familiar spirit. Significantly, one cloak bears a swastika emblem; this ancient symbol was widely recognized across many cultures as a sign of good fortune or well-being for millennia before its infamous appropriation by Nazi Germany in the 1930s. The photographer's mark "Watson's, Morecambe" identifies this as a studio portrait from the English seaside resort, common for local businesses offering novelty or commemorative photography.