HALLOWE’EN is often thought of as a modern invention, imported from the United States.

But people in Oxfordshire were celebrating it as early as the 1950s, as the top picture shows.

The East Oxford Cooperative Women’s Guild Choir was celebrating its 10th birthday, which fell on Hallowe’en night in 1958.

So three members dressed appropriately in witches’ outfits, complete with broomsticks and witches’ cauldron.

Memory Lane this week

The other picture was taken at Blewbury Primary School, near Didcot, in 1975 when pupils spent a week as witches and wizards.

No spells were cast to do away with lessons – Hallowe’en became part of their studies.

The Oxford Mail reported: “The children have been making lanterns, puppets depicting witches, wizards, cats and the other allied forms connected with this magic world for a witches’ cave. The children also dressed up in their home-made witches’ and wizards’ outfits.”

Headmaster Ron Martin said some of the examples were quite outstanding and prizes were awarded for the best ones.

Oxford Mail:

Children from Blewbury Primary School celebrate Halloween

The best-dressed wizard was six-year-old Darren Corbett and the best-dressed white witch was nine-year-old Alison Spear.

The winners of the wizards and witches model contest were Rhonda Pearce, nine, and Lisa Downey, eight, who were equal first.

The lantern contest was won by Kathryn Godwin, six, while Mark Dendy, seven, won first prize in the same section for juniors.

The week of celebrations ended with a puppet show, the script of which was written by the pupils.

Historians say that Hallowe’en can be traced back about 2,000 years to a Gaelic festival called Samhain (pronounced ‘sah-win), which means ‘summer’s end’ in Gaelic.

It was an annual communal get-together at the end of the harvest, a time to gather resources for the winter.

Masks and costumes were often worn in an attempt to mimic evil spirits or appease them.

‘Trick-or-treating’ later became popular, with children knocking on doors in costume, asking for treats such as sweets.

The trick part of the ‘trick or treat’ question is a threat to play a trick on the householder or his or her property if no treat is given.

Over the years, this practice has led to considerable anguish among home owners, particularly the elderly, with the result that police have appealed to parents to stop their children touring the streets.

In some American states, the night of trick and treating has become known as Beggars’ Night.

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