Halloween Witch With Jack-O'-Lantern And Teddy Bear Real Photo Postcard
The postcard, titled "A Wee Little Ghost," captures a child in a simple sheet ghost costume, holding a broom, surrounded by carved pumpkins and a teddy bear. This imagery is characteristic of early 20th-century Halloween celebrations, when the holiday was transitioning from its more folkloric and sometimes rowdy origins to a more child-friendly, domestic observance in the United States. The monochrome photographic style further dates the image to the 1900s or 1910s.
During this period, Halloween parties and masquerades gained popularity, often held indoors with homemade decorations and costumes like the one depicted. The ghost costume, reflecting ancient beliefs about spirits on All Hallow's Eve, was a common and easily fashioned choice. Jack-o'-lanterns, derived from older traditions of carving gourds or root vegetables, became a prominent symbol of the holiday, illuminating the festive atmosphere of this evolving autumnal tradition.
During this period, Halloween parties and masquerades gained popularity, often held indoors with homemade decorations and costumes like the one depicted. The ghost costume, reflecting ancient beliefs about spirits on All Hallow's Eve, was a common and easily fashioned choice. Jack-o'-lanterns, derived from older traditions of carving gourds or root vegetables, became a prominent symbol of the holiday, illuminating the festive atmosphere of this evolving autumnal tradition.
