The Ghosts of Halloween Past: Celebrating Halloween in the 1970s

​Hey there, spook enthusiasts!
 
Halloween is upon us, and as someone who writes about all things eerie and unsettling, I can't help but get nostalgic about the Halloweens of yesteryear. Today, I want to take you on a trick-or-treat trip down memory lane to the bell-bottomed, disco-fevered era of the 1970s!

​Costumes and Candy Corn

​Ah, the '70s! A time when costumes were homemade, candy corn was considered a food group, and trick-or-treating was an Olympic sport for us kids. Moms would break out their sewing kits to craft the perfect Wonder Woman or Dracula outfit, while dads carved pumpkins that looked more like abstract art than menacing faces. It was all part of the fun!

Halloween cookies are always a party staple!

Scary Movies That Raised Hairs

Okay, let's get to the good stuff—the films that made us jump out of our seats or hide under the blankets. The '70s gave us some of the most iconic horror movies of all time, and these were my go-to for a frighteningly good time:
 Jaws (1975) - A shark so terrifying it kept people out of the water for years!
Halloween (1978) - The film that introduced us to Michael Myers and set the tone for slasher films.
The Exorcist (1973) - Head-spinning and pea soup-spitting, need I say more?
Carrie (1976) - Proving that high school can be a literal nightmare.
The Omen (1976) - Devilish children and creepy lullabies, the perfect recipe for chills.

​Traditions: Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet!

​In the '70s, Halloween was still mainly a kids' holiday. We'd go door-to-door in our neighborhood, shouting "Trick or treat!" at the top of our lungs, and come home with pillowcases full of candy. Apple bobbing was still a thing, and "Monster Mash" was the anthem of every Halloween party.

​Pop Culture and All That Jazz
 

The pop culture of the '70s oozed into Halloween like fog from a dry ice machine. Anyone else remember trading Wacky Packages stickers or donning a "Kiss" mask complete with the tongue? Yes, Halloween in the '70s was just as much about embracing the pop culture of the time as it was about getting spooked.
 
So, there you have it, a little journey back to a simpler, albeit groovier, time of Halloween celebrations. As someone who gets to write about ghosts, goblins, and all sorts of paranormal entities today, I can't help but tip my hat to the decade that made Halloween a truly spooktacular event!
 
Wishing you all a hauntingly happy Halloween!
 
Until next time,
M. L. Bullock