Halloween Comes to America
The celebration of Halloween was extremely limited in colonial New England because of the rigid Protestant belief systems there. Halloween was much more common in Maryland and the southern colonies.
As the beliefs and customs of different European ethnic groups and the American Indians meshed, a distinctly American version of Halloween began to emerge. The first celebrations included “play parties,” which were public events held to celebrate the harvest. Neighbors would share stories of the dead, tell each other’s fortunes, dance and sing.
Colonial Halloween festivities also featured the telling of ghost stories and mischief-making of all kinds. By the middle of the 19th century, annual autumn festivities were common, but Halloween was not yet celebrated everywhere in the country.
In the second half of the 19th century, America was flooded with new immigrants. These new immigrants, especially the millions of Irish fleeing the Irish Potato Famine, helped to popularize the celebration of Halloween nationally.
Halloween Night brought together on-site and work-from-home employees for a memorable celebration. The workplace was adorned with spooky decorations, and employees showcased creative costumes both in-person and virtually. The highlight was a lively virtual emoji guessing game, where everyone participated and deciphered Halloween-related phrases and symbols. Delicious treats were enjoyed by all, fostering a lively and joyous atmosphere. It was a good day which created lasting memories, bridging the gap between on-site and remote team members. 👻🎃
