Halloween Witch and Black Cat Fairman Series 152 Postcard

Halloween, stemming from ancient Celtic festivals like Samhain, underwent a significant transformation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in America. It evolved from a spiritual observance to a more secular holiday centered on festivities and communal gatherings. This era saw a shift in the popular iconography of the witch; once primarily depicted as a fearsome hag, artists began to portray them in a more elegant, romanticized, or even mischievous light, a departure evident in many popular postcards of the period.