Halloween is an annual celebration on October 31st, preceding All Hallows' Day and marking the start of Allhallowtide, a period for remembering the dead, including saints and martyrs. While rooted in religious observance, it has evolved into a popular cultural event. It is widely associated with themes of horror, the macabre, and the supernatural, moving away from its purely religious origins to embrace secular traditions.
In 1911, a newspaper in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, reported children going "guising" around the neighborhood, marking an early instance of this custom in North America.
In 1911, the first reference to "guising" in North America appeared.
In 1914, the Irish game púicíní ("blindfolds") features prominently in the James Joyce short story "Clay".
In 1915, another reference to ritual begging on Halloween appeared, place unknown.
In 1915, the first recorded purpose-built haunted attraction, the Orton and Spooner Ghost House, opened in Liphook, England.
In 1919, Ruth Edna Kelley wrote The Book of Hallowe'en, the first book-length history of Halloween in the US, discussing the adoption and adaptation of customs from other countries.
In 1920, a reference to ritual begging appeared in Chicago.
In 1927, the earliest known use in print of the term "trick or treat" appeared in the Blackie Herald, of Alberta, Canada.
In 1931, the classic horror film Frankenstein was released, contributing to the modern imagery associated with Halloween.
In 1932, the classic horror film The Mummy was released, contributing to the modern imagery associated with Halloween.
In 1934, the first US appearances of the term "trick-or-treating" were recorded.
In 1939, the first use of the term "trick-or-treating" in a national publication occurred.
In 1950, the "Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF" fundraising program began as a local event in a Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood.
In 1952, "Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF" expanded nationally, involving the distribution of collection boxes to trick-or-treaters.
In 1957, sponsored by the Children's Health Home Junior Auxiliary, the San Mateo Haunted House opened.
In 1958, the San Bernardino Assistance League Haunted House opened.
In 1962, home haunts began appearing across the country.
In 1963, home haunts continued appearing across the country.
In 1964, the San Mateo Haunted House and the Children's Museum Haunted House in Indianapolis opened.
On August 12, 1969, The Haunted Mansion opened in Disneyland, contributing to the haunted house as an American cultural icon.
In 1970, the first Halloween haunted house run by a nonprofit organization was produced by the Sycamore-Deer Park Jaycees in Clifton, Ohio.
In 1972, Evangelical Christians opened one of the first "hell houses".
In 1973, Knott's Berry Farm began hosting its own Halloween night attraction, Knott's Scary Farm.
In 1974, the yearly New York's Village Halloween Parade was begun, becoming the world's largest Halloween parade and America's only major nighttime parade.
In 1976, The March of Dimes copyrighted a "Mini haunted house for the March of Dimes" and began fundraising through their local chapters by conducting haunted houses soon after.
In 1982, the Sycamore-Deer Park Jaycees Haunted House in Clifton, Ohio, had its last production.
In May 1984, the Haunted Castle at Six Flags Great Adventure caught fire, resulting in the deaths of eight teenagers and leading to tightened safety regulations.
In 1986, Six Flags Fright Fest began.
In 1991, Universal Studios Florida began Halloween Horror Nights.
In 2006, UNICEF decided to discontinue their Halloween collection boxes in Canada due to safety and administrative concerns, redesigning the program after consulting with schools.
In 2010, an estimated $200 million was spent on Halloween costumes for pets.
According to a 2018 report, 30 million Americans will spend an estimated $480 million on Halloween costumes for their pets.
In 2019, $2.7 billion was spent on home decorations for Halloween.
In 2022, Americans spent $10.6 billion on Halloween.
In 2023, Americans were projected to spend $12.2 billion on Halloween.
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