The Spirit of Halloween: The Timeless Rituals That Cross Generations

Written by our Founder and Chairman, the Celebrations Pulse letters aim to engage with our community. By welcoming your ideas and sharing your stories, we want to help you strengthen your relationships with the most important people in your life.

More than 2,000 years ago, the Celts held a festival called Samhain to mark the end of the harvest and the start of winter. They believed it was a time when the line between the living and the dead grew thin, so they lit fires and wore disguises to ward off spirits.

Those rituals evolved over time. When the holiday we now know as Halloween arrived in America, it morphed into a playful night for children: They wore homemade costumes while running door to door, and the whole neighborhood joined in. It was simple fun that brought people together.

Then Halloween grew up.

I was discussing this with Larry Zarin, a 1-800-Flowers.com board member. He reminded me that back in the early ’80s, beer companies helped spark that shift. They launched “Fright Night” promotions with banners and icons, like Elvira, Mistress of the Night. As Larry put it, those campaigns “lit the fuse” that turned Halloween into a celebration for everyone.

A growing number of scary movies, haunted houses, and block parties accelerated Halloween’s popularity. But amid all this change, the heart of the holiday hasn’t changed. For a few weeks in October, we’re still celebrating the joy of community before darkness sets in.

Little rituals with a lasting impact

I can feel the Halloween spirit shining through in the stories that many of you have shared with me over the past few weeks. Each one is a reminder of how the simple traditions of this holiday bring us together and strengthen the bonds we share, no matter our age. As one community member, Cherie, shared:

“Every year, I placed white skeletons in our windows and had a big bowl of candy. I still have caramel apples and decorate the entrance to our complex. I’m 71 years old and still have Halloween spirit!”

For Deb, Halloween means transforming her home into the “best house on the block.”

“Spiderwebs hung from the beams, orange and black crepe paper swirled throughout. Peanut butter and fluff sandwiches cut with Halloween cookie cutters. Orange sherbet punch and a homemade cake. It’s a feast!”

Years later, a young woman who’d trick-or-treated at Deb’s house as a child returned with her own baby, saying it was still her favorite house. “What a sweet compliment,” she told me. “Those were the best of days.”

Tricks & treats

When you think of Halloween, there’s one ritual that immediately comes to mind: trick-or-treating! It’s generosity in disguise, literally giving something to a stranger. As some of your stories show, those treats do not always come in fun-size candy bars.

One of my favorite rituals involves my long-time assistant, Patty. Every year, instead of handing out candy, she buys boxes of Cheryl’s Cookies and hands out the individually wrapped treats. Needless to say, she’s a hit with kids … and adults.

Sometimes, the best memories come from the tricks.

Susan shared this one: “When I was 12, I thought it would be fun to trick-or-treat at my own house. My dad came to the door, put candy in my sack, and said, ‘Oh, Susie! You almost had me!’ He knew it was me because the bag had the name of a store from our old town.”

I had a good laugh at that one. My kids used to think they could trick dear ol’ dad with their costumes, too. But I always knew. I also always enforced a strict “candy tax” — payable immediately in Snickers. Fair’s fair, right?

Rituals & memories across generations

Many of your stories reminded me how Halloween connects us across time — between generations and even the people we’ve loved and lost.

Nancy told me about her brother, a widower and retired Marine, who turns his garage into a 1950s-style celebration with music, decorations, a giant bowl of candy, and a line of happy kids. “He invites the children to grab a handful and share their favorite Halloween story,” she wrote. “He enjoys himself more than all the children combined!”

Then there’s Diane, who found a touching way to keep her father’s memory alive. After he passed away, she transformed his old neckties into Halloween costumes for her daughters.

“We cut them into pieces — the longer ones for my older daughter, the shorter for my younger — and sewed them into colorful gypsy skirts. They were so happy with Papa’s tie costumes, and unlike any others they saw that night.”

Extending Hallween magic

Reading these stories reminds me why Halloween has lasted through the ages. It’s about dressing up and passing something down.

Each generation adds its own touch, making the holiday a little more personal and a little more meaningful. When Larry and I were talking about how a few clever marketers helped Halloween “grow up,” what struck me was that people never lost sight of the holiday’s heart. Every new tradition didn’t replace the old but added another layer to the story.

This year, whether you’re carving pumpkins, walking miles for candy, or handing out treats from your front porch, remember that you’re part of something bigger. You’re keeping the magic of Halloween alive, one ritual at a time.

All the best,

Jim