AUTHOR R. ANN SIRACUSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . It isn't the destination that matters -- It's the journey that counts!
Contact me!
  • HOME
  • BLOG
  • BOOKS
    • All For A Dead Man's Leg
    • All For A Fist Full Of Ashes
    • Destruction Of The Great Wall
    • All For Spilled Blood
    • First Date
    • Halloween In The Catacombs
    • All In The Game
    • Family Secrets: A Vengeance of Tears
  • ABOUT ME
    • Resume
  • PHOTO ALBUMS
  • RESOURCES
  • MY ORGANIZATONS
  • BLOGS ABOUT ANN
  • Blog

HALLOWEEN COSTUMES TRENDING in 2020

10/30/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
In 2020, if someone dresses up in a Halloween costume at all this year, there are tons of premade costumes to choose from representing every character from movies, TV, and comic books, whatever. Kids today shun the homemade costumes like we had when I was a kid, which was at least a hundred and fifty years ago.

ORIGINS OF HALLOWEEN COSTUMES
Most historians suggest the custom of dressing up for Halloween originated with the Celtic festivals Samhain and Calan Gaeaf and, in the 9th century when Christianity spread, from the practice of “souling” during the observance of Allhallowtide.

By now, it’s common knowledge. What I didn’t realize was is that Samhain is now believed to predate the arrival of the first Celts in Ireland about 2,500 years ago. Two hills in the Boyne Valley associated with the Samhain Great Fire Festival and the Mound of Hostages have entrance passages to the mounds which has been dated at 4,500 to 5,000 years old.

Hills of Tara ▼
Image Source: mythicalireland.com/hill-of-tara                                       ▼ Image Source: tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink

Picture
Picture
Picture
That doesn’t mean that dressing in costume goes back that far. Just an interesting factoid.

The Celts believed that during the festival of Samhain, the world of the gods became visible to humans, resulting in supernatural mischief. Some people offered treats and food to the gods, while other wore disguises -- such as animal skins and heads -- so that wandering spirits might mistake them for one of their own.
​
Humming while wearing costumes is also associated with other festivals, particularly Christmas. The wearing of costumes while “humming”,”mumming”, or “guising” was intended to blend in with the spirits of Aos SI, Spirits of the Otherworld, which were on earth at that time. It was thought that by dressing up, one would fool the spirits into thinking you were one of them and would therefore be protected. [Like they couldn’t tell? It’s like Superman putting on a suit and glasses and becoming Clark Kent, and no one can recognize him. Yeah, right.]
Picture
​In addition to humming and mumming, people would put out bowls of food in front of their houses to appease the ghosts and prevent them from attempting to enter.
​
At that time the costumes would have been based on the frightening supernatural and folklore beings they wanted to be protected from. Witches, goblins, and the like, I presume.

The first written references to costumes on All Hallows Eve comes from Scotland in 1585 and, apparently, the tradition continues through the 18th
and 19th centuries in the Celtic countries of Scotland, Ireland, Mann and Wales.


HALLOWEEN COSTUMES IN AMERICA
Large numbers of Scottish and Irish immigrated to America in the 18th century, bringing with them the Halloween customs, traditions, and costumes. The costume and Trick-or-Treat practice spread, each culture putting their own slant on the rituals based on their own festivals and beliefs.

Picture
By the 1930s, most costumes were worn by children and teens, and the disguises became based on characters from radio and movies. Costumes ​​were being mass produced particularly those modeled after beloved cartoons, thanks to new licensing deals with Walt Disney. People still made their own costumes out of whatever they had available.

At Chicago Art Institute's Halloween Ball, 1949
Image Credit: Robert Natkin/Getty Images
Image Source: history.com/topics/halloween


Picture
​Superhero costumes were first popularized in the 1960s and remain one of the most-worn choices.

By the 1990s women reverted back to making costumes at home to replicate as because longed to dress like their favorite singers, actresses and musical groups. Couples costumes based on movie or TV characters became popular with everyone.

 ▲Image Source: amazon.com/Batman-Classic-Heritage-Costume

TRENDING
As Americans often do, we have turned our enthusiasm for Halloween costumes into a profitable business. No more of this homemade stuff.

In 2017, Americans spent $9.1 billion on Halloween and $3.4 billion on costumes. That’s a chunk of change. In 2020, that may drop some, but we’re quite innovative when it comes to spending money. In 2019, Americans spend almost half a billion [$490 million] on costumes for their pets, a particular favorite for millennials. Dressing like your pet has been a big trend since 2018.

Here are some extreme examples of men’s 2020 costumes.  There were many more traditional costumes available but I chose some of the bizarre ones. Do men really wear these?

Would You Allow Your Husband or Significant Other in Public Wearing This? ▼

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
​Would You Subject Your Pet To This Humiliation? ▼
 Image source: 
                         Image source:                                        Image source:                                                Image Source:
dogtime.com/dog-health/                       moochmoochpets.wordpress.com/          time.com/sexy-halloween-dogs/                   popsugar.com/smart-living/

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Owners And Pets
This category of partner costumes is actually cute and innovative.
Picture
Picture
ImageCredit: Valdya Baraputri/BU News Service - Image Source:
​bunewsservice.com/photos-halloween
Picture
Picture
​ ▲Image Source: facebook.com/ellentv/       ▼ Image Source: wideopenpets.com/human-dog            ▲​Source of Images: facebook.com/ellentv/ ▲
Picture
HOWEVER YOU DRESS and HOWEVER YOU CELEBRATE, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
□

Resources:
https://www.boredpanda.com/halloween-dog-costumes/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic
https://www.wideopenpets.com/best-human-and-dog-halloween-costumes/
https://www.amazon.com/Batman-Classic-Heritage-Costume-Halloween/dp/B00QYX55UC
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3274882/Halloween-ages-spooky-masks-1900s-Kim-Kardashian-breaks-internet-outfits-2015-costume-trends-evolved-past-115-years.html
https://www.newgrange.com/samhain.htm
https://www.bestproducts.com/lifestyle/news/g1771/top-trending-halloween-costumes/
https://www.ibtimes.com/halloween-history-roman-christian-influences-857025
https://celticruins.blogspot.com/2014/05/samhain-celtic-origins-of-halloween.html
https://oghamart.com/blogs/news/samhain-halloween-celtic-roots
https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween#:~:text=The%20tradition%20originated%20with%20the,costumes%20to%20ward%20off%20ghosts.&text=Over%20time%2C%20Halloween%20evolved%20into,donning%20costumes%20and%20eating%20treats.
https://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/DIY-Costumes-Men-35669263
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween_costume
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/history-of-halloween-costumes/index.html
https://mythicalireland.com/ancient-sites/the-hill-of-tara-teamhair/
Photographs Only
https://culturacolectiva.com/lifestyle/cool-cute-dog-human-matching-halloween-costumes
https://moochmoochpets.wordpress.com/2015/10/16/halloween-pet-costumes/
https://www.facebook.com/ellentv/photos/they-say-dogs-and-owners-tend-to-look-alike/10151247545722240/
https://www.goldenacresdogs.com/matching-dogs-and-owners.htmlhttps:/www.goldenacresdogs.com/matching-dogs-and-owners.html
https://bunewsservice.com/photos-halloween-pet-parade-and-costume-contest/
https://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/DIY-Costumes-Men-35669263
https://dogtime.com/dog-health/general/18627-30-awesome-dog-and-cat-halloween-costumes
https://moochmoochpets.wordpress.com/2015/10/16/halloween-pet-costumes/
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author R. Ann Siracusa

    Novelist, retired architect and urban planner, world traveler, quilter, owl collector, devoted wife-mother-grandmother, great-grandmother, and, according to some, wild-assed liberal.

    Archives

    February 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016
    November 2015
    February 2015
    November 2014
    August 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013

    Categories

    All
    Africa
    Baboons
    Bagpipes
    Halloween
    Mopane-Mopani Worms
    Saint Patrick
    Samhain
    Shamrock
    Snakes
    Travel
    Veterans Day

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.