Halloween History 1900's - Places of Mystery

[spookygrrrly]

I've been doing some more research into vintage american Halloween decorating, party ideas and the like.

I came across a really awesome website Vintage Halloween Ideas which specializes in Halloween ideas, history and information from the 1890's - 1960's.

Now I did know that at the turn of the century through the 1940's fortune telling of some sort was a big party of Halloween parties. Never really taken seriously it was a fun and games sort of thing usually involved around match making or ways to forsee your future spouse.

Though I found this tidbit of info enlightening (taken from a 1940's party idea guide):

The best for mystic rites is the barn; second best is an attic full of shadows; third best is a cellar into which guests descend immediately after removing wraps; fourth best is large hall;

lastly the kitchen.

If affair is held in barn, build a large bonfire in front for use of guests for after-supper sports. The place where the mysteries are performed should be decorated with gruesome things — jack-o'-lanterns, skulls and cross-bones, black draperies, witches made out of cardboard and suspended from the walls, cats, bats, owls, etc. The shades and spirits should flit about.

The kitchen? I get the barn, I get the attic, I agree the cellar would make a nice creepy place, a large hall...sure why not. The kitchen is next? Well I guess everything seems to gravitate thier anyways...might as well be where the spirits eventually end up too.

Comments

[alasharia-la.livejournal.com]

I dunno about you, but the idea of summoning a potentially malicious spirit into a kitchen seems a bit... dangerous, to me. Yanno, knives, scissors, cast iron pots and pans...

[spookygrrrly.livejournal.com]

I agree...summoning spirits into the kitchen really seems bad form.

I mean next thing you know they are just going to be hanging around eating all your food.

[jennifleur.livejournal.com]

And what's scarier then that? Heehee