Halloween Collectibles

October 2023

Halloween, according to the History Channel, "The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints. Soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween.” It’s not surprising that the most candy sold in the United States is for the Halloween holiday. It’s also not surprising that second to Christmas, vintage Halloween collectibles are sought-after finds. Everything from vintage ceramics (like my black cat find in the photo) to Gurley molded figural candles from the 1950s (my pumpkin candle) to halloween linens are rounded up by collectors. A great time to find Halloween collectibles is often in the middle of summer but also in November at thrift shops. For more on valued Halloween collectibles, check out the article titled “61 Most Valuable Halloween Collectibles” published by Work & Money.