This post was written by Rachel Gordon, Visitor Services Specialist in the Library’s Center for Learning, Literacy and Engagement.
For Halloween 2020, we’re all going to be staying much closer to home than is the norm. That made me wonder what we might discover from looking back in the Library’s collections to a time when celebrations were more domestic than they (usually) are now.
Old newspapers contain a wealth of information and ideas, and the Library of Congress has one of the most extensive newspaper collections in the world. Chronicling America allows you to search hundreds of years’ worth of American newspapers, and the 1950s seemed like a good place for me to start. Celebrations were in full swing but with treats, costumes, and fun that were generally more homemade than commercial. New convenience foods meant there were all kinds of time-saving ingredients the ’50s woman could whip up into holiday treats for her children. Newspaper ads and articles of the time all have the same message – a housewife was expected to do this while keeping a spotless house and serving three home-cooked meals a day to her family, always in fabulous clothes and full make-up.
The Washington DC Evening Star paper is a fascinating time capsule of the period, and offers recipes and activities including:
Good Things to Eat at a Halloween Party (10/29/1950), includes background history on the holiday as well as recipes for Popcorn Balls, and Orange Gelatin Jack O’Lanterns. Both these are worth a try; they’re likely to be hits with a 21st century audience too.
Brownies on sticks (1952 and 1954) are a clever variation on cake pops and pumpkin- filled oatmeal cookies