Elaine Jackson gave a program on the history of Halloween. The name is derived from "All Hallows' Eve," which fell before All Saints' Days on November 2nd and All Souls' Day on the 3rd. She explained that the holiday incorporates traditions from Celtic culture and the festival of Samhain, which took place around October 31st, a time when the boundaries between this world and the world of the supernatural were believed to thin and the souls of the deceased would return to visit. Trick or treating traces back to the tradition of poor people and children going door to door on All Souls' Day begging for pastries known as soul cakes. Irish and Scottish immigrants brought many of these traditions to the United States. In Mexico and parts of the southwestern United States, Día de Muertos, the Day of the Dead, is celebrated at this time as well. The holiday, which may have Aztec and indigenous roots, honors deceased family members and friends.
Elaine said that when she was growing up, children made their costumes rather than dressing up in store-bought outfits. Her brother went every year as a cowboy. The cowboy doll is made from a commercial pattern first published in the 1940s. Clowns were also a popular choice. Her clown doll was made by Eleanor Todd, a New Orleans doll artist.
Elaine said that she would sometimes trick or treat dressed up as a fortune teller, wearing a long skirt, scarves, and necklaces borrowed from her mother. This doll, whom Elaine calls Griselda Grump, was made in the 1970s by a local doll artist, Ann Lind.
Sharon Weintraub displayed these three antique German character dolls. The larger witch is Hexe made by Simon and Halbig for Cuno and Otto Dressel. The smaller witch is an all-original doll from Hertwig and Company, and the grinning black cat was a created by Gebruder Heubach.
Myrna Loesch brought this vintage Dollikin looking like a treat tricked out in her Halloween finery.
She also shared two more of her treasures that she acquired at the United Federation of Doll Clubs Convention in New Orleans. This Cissy by Madame Alexander dates from 1958.
Also by Madame Alexander is this composition Sonja Henie doll. Myrna told the club that the doll's dress is original, but she added the skates.
David Craig brought a bevy of bewitching beauties. The tall belle in black is American Model by Robert Tonner. The lady in red is from JAMIEshow, while the petite pair were made by Integrity Toys. He said that he enjoys dressing his dolls for Halloween.
This sultry sorceress is a Cissy dressed by Jan Irsfeld in an outfit inspired Paris luxury fashion house Balenciaga. The silvery beadwork down the front represents all sorts of Halloween creepy crawlies, including snakes, bats, and spiders.
New member Charlie Abramovsky-Defoor shared these two Vogue Ginny dolls wearing Halloween costumes created for Ginger by Cosmopolitan Doll and Toy Corporation.
Jenell Howell brought her latest BJD doll. . . .
with a hauntingly beautiful face.
Nancy Countryman brought this Buzz Lightyear doll from the Toy Story franchise
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