History of Halloween costume in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: October 31, 2025

Halloween costumes are garments worn on Halloween, particularly for trick-or-treating. Historically rooted in frightening supernatural and folkloric figures, their themes broadened by the 1930s to include characters from mass media like film, literature, and radio. Initially worn primarily by young people, Halloween costumes have become increasingly popular among adults since the mid-20th century, solidifying their place as a key element of Halloween celebrations.

1911: Guising in North America

In 1911, the custom of guising at Halloween in North America was first recorded when a newspaper in Kingston, Ontario, reported children going "guising" around the neighborhood.

2005: Halloween Costume Spending

In 2005, a National Retail Federation (NRF) study in the United States found that 53.3% of consumers planned to buy a Halloween costume, spending $38.11 on average, up $10 from the year before.

2006: Increase in Halloween Spending

In 2006, the NRF expected Halloween spending to reach $4.96 billion, up significantly from $3.3 billion the previous year.

2008: ICE Halloween Party Scandal

In 2008, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Secretary Julie Myers was involved in a scandal at ICE's Halloween party when she made the Best Costume award to someone dressed as an "escaped Jamaican prisoner" with dreadlocks and blackface.

2009: Decrease in Halloween Spending

In 2009, the NRF anticipated that American households would decrease Halloween spending by as much as 15% to $56.31 due to the troubled economy.

2013: Halloween Spending in 2013

In 2013, Americans spent an estimated $6.9 billion to celebrate Halloween, including a predicted $2.6 billion on costumes, with more spent on adult costumes than for children's costumes, and $330 million on pet costumes.