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According to the History Channel, Halloween is a holiday celebrated each year on Oct. 31. The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to drive away ghosts. The Celts celebrated their new year on Nov. 1, a date that marked the end of warm weather and the harvest and the start of the winter. The Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred.
In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated Nov. 1 as a time to honor all saints. Soon afterward, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve or Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of wearing costumes, trick or treating, gatherings, and spookiness.
The article below appeared in The News Messenger of Lyon County on Nov. 4, 1887:
The young ladies of Marshall gave a very enjoyable party last Monday, Hallowmas Eve, at the residence of Mr. J.P. Watson. Over forty young and unmarried gentlemen received odd and unique invitations, announcing that their presence was requested at a Phantom party, to be held by the young ladies. When the gentlemen arrived they found all the young ladies masquerading as phantoms in white robes and masks making recognition impossible. There were many amusing mistakes made and many cases of mistaken identity. Later in the evening refreshments were served and were followed by the usual sports and revelries, such as ducking for apples and the performance of spells to discover who were to be future partners. This is the first time, in Marshall, that Halloween has been recognized although in many places it has long been the occasion of certain popular usages and fireside revelries. All who attended the party declared that it was one of the most enjoyable that has ever been given in Marshall.
The photograph featured this week shows a witch that is in the Lyon County Museum's collection and is currently on exhibit in the front entry of the museum. The witch's skirt is made from Reader's Digest pages. Making crafts with Reader's Digest pages was popular in the 1960s and 1970s. The witch was made and donated by LCHS member and volunteer, Karen Rafson.
Happy Halloween! The Lyon County Historical Society (LCHS) is a nonprofit, member-supported organization. LCHS operates the Lyon County Museum at 301 West Lyon Street in Marshall. The Lyon County Museum is open year-round to visitors. To contact us, visit our website: www.lyoncomuseum.org, call: 507-537-6580, email: director@lyoncomuseum.org, or on our Facebook page.