Quote from Angela on October 4, 2021, 8:55 pm

During the 1960s Halloween was marketed as ‘a time for masquerading’. However, there were no large commercial stores or specialised Halloween vendors, store bought costumes were a rarity and pillow cases were often used as trick or treat sacks.

There were no moving skeletons or screaming ghouls but nicely carved pumpkins with flowing sheets hanging from trees were the standard outside decoration and just as much fun.

Children would dress as scarecrows, pirates and mummies and complete against each other seeing who could collect the most fall leaves in the biggest refuse bags. Parents would open their homes and invite friends to hot cider and cookie parties.

Many folks would hang simple plastic die cuts of black cats, whimsical witches and jack o lanterns across porches and children would paint carved wooden circular pumpkins and stack them along fences.

Another fun craft was making banners from spooky magazine cut outs as fireside decor.

Just goes to show that a pumpkin and some bedsheets was enough to bring some seasonal joy back when folks made do with what they had available to them.

Tune in soon and join us in taking a look at the 1970s!