Lake City Iowa Halloween Little Boys Costumes Candy Pumpkin Containers 1911 Real Photo Postcard
By the early 20th century, Halloween in North America was transitioning from an adult-oriented harvest and spirit festival to a holiday increasingly centered on children. This period saw the popularization of activities like parties, games, and the custom of dressing in costumes. The developing tradition of children visiting neighbors for treats, often performing small recitations, laid the groundwork for modern trick-or-treating.
The novelty items held by the children, likely early mass-produced paper-mâché or tin candy containers shaped like jack-o'-lanterns, signify the growing commercialization of Halloween. These items, appearing around the turn of the century, replaced entirely homemade decorations, contributing to the holiday's widespread appeal and standardizing its iconography, particularly for children's celebrations.
The novelty items held by the children, likely early mass-produced paper-mâché or tin candy containers shaped like jack-o'-lanterns, signify the growing commercialization of Halloween. These items, appearing around the turn of the century, replaced entirely homemade decorations, contributing to the holiday's widespread appeal and standardizing its iconography, particularly for children's celebrations.
