Halloween Witch With Broom Fairman Postcard
The depiction of a witch with a pointed hat and broomstick, as seen on this postcard, solidified as a widely recognized motif for Halloween around the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This imagery, rooted in earlier folklore associating witches with sorcery and pagan traditions, began to appear in more stylized, often less menacing forms on holiday ephemera, marking a shift in popular perception.
Halloween itself, stemming from ancient Celtic harvest festivals like Samhain, underwent significant cultural transformation in the United States during this era. It evolved from a largely immigrant-celebrated holiday into a mainstream American event focused on community festivities, costumes, and whimsical representations of supernatural figures. Postcards featuring charming or stylized witches contributed to popularizing this lighter, more festive interpretation of the holiday and its iconic characters.
Halloween itself, stemming from ancient Celtic harvest festivals like Samhain, underwent significant cultural transformation in the United States during this era. It evolved from a largely immigrant-celebrated holiday into a mainstream American event focused on community festivities, costumes, and whimsical representations of supernatural figures. Postcards featuring charming or stylized witches contributed to popularizing this lighter, more festive interpretation of the holiday and its iconic characters.
