HomeShowsThis Day In History
Stream HISTORY
HomeShowsThis Day In HistoryStream HISTORY
  1. Home
  2. Topics
  3. Halloween
  4. Stories

Halloween ‑ Stories

Halloween evolved from the ancient Celtic holiday of Samhain. Over the centuries, Halloween transitioned from a pagan ritual to a day of parties, costumes, jack-o-lanterns and trick-or-treating for kids and adults.

Haunted House

The Great Depression Origins of Halloween Haunted Houses

People were outraged when teenage boys vandalized towns on October 31, 1933—so they found a way to keep them inside.

Read more

8 Halloween Folk Legends: Video

From witches to zombies to creepy clowns, the season’s hair‑raising legends all formed from decades—to centuries—of lore.

Read more

Best Halloween Costume Ideas Inspired by History

From Marie Antoinette to Che Guevara and Neil Armstrong, the past is filled with all kinds of characters.

Read more
Pumpkin Spice

‘Pumpkin Spice’ Has Been a Thing for 3,500 Years

A key ingredient in the flavor was discovered on ancient pottery shards in Indonesia, revealing it has been around for a long, looooong time.

Read more
Candy Corn

Who Invented Candy Corn?

The tri‑colored confection was designed to look like chicken feed and came out at a time when about half of Americans worked on farms.

Read more
Candy for trick-or-treaters on Halloween. (Credit: Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

The Sweet Relationship Between Daylight Saving Time and Halloween

It wasn’t always bright outside for trick‑or‑treaters on the go.

Read more

Halloween Was Once So Dangerous That Some Cities Considered Banning It

Violence and vandalism were once as traditional as candy and costumes.

Read more

Thank This Man For Your Last‑Minute Halloween Costume

Ben Cooper made Halloween costumes easy.

Read more
Halloween Candy Corn

How Americans Became Convinced Their Halloween Candy was Poisoned

While the fears may be overblown, Halloween crimes involving poison have occurred.

Read more
Halloween at the White House

Monsters in the White House: The Best Presidential Halloween Costumes

The White House has been celebrating Halloween since the days of Eisenhower.

Read more
"It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown", 1966

How Donald Duck and Peanuts Saved Trick‑or‑Treating After WWII

Not even the effects of wartime sugar rationing could stop this Halloween pastime.

Read more
The new Stephen King IT movie, directed by Andy Muschietti. (Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/Atlaspix/Alamy Stock Photo)

A Brief History of Creepy Clowns

Why exactly have creepy clowns become such a trope in pop culture?

Read more
A+E Global Media Logo
  • HISTORY Education
  • HISTORY Vault®
  • HISTORY Apps
  • HISTORY2™
  • HISTORY en Español®
  • Military HISTORY®
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Share Your Opinions
  • FAQ / Contact Us
  • Advertise with Us
  • Employment Opportunities
  • A+E Factual Studios™
  • Accessibility Support
  • A+E Studios®
  • TV Parental Guidelines
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright Policy
  • Cookie Notice
  • Ad Choices
© 2025, A&E Television Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved.