A Glenbow Halloween
Children carving a Halloween pumpkin, Calgary, Alberta, 1947. Photo by Lorne Burkell. Glenbow Library and Archives, UCalgary: PA-3637-7.
It’s a Glenbow Halloween at the Glenbow Western Research Centre. Since we can’t hand out candy, we instead decided to share some of the Glenbow Library and Archives photographs of the spookiest time of the year.
Halloween has its roots with the Celts of the British Isles and Western Europe. First known as Samhain, it was a time to celebrate the end of summer and the start of winter. It was also the one time each year when the dead were said to walk the earth.
With influences from the Romans and Christianity, Halloween evolved into the celebration we know it today. And while this may well be the scariest in many years, perhaps for once, horror movies might not seem so frightening after all. In the meantime, look to these photos for inspiration or memories of Halloween past in Alberta.
The Tricks
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- Typical Halloween trick in Airdrie area, Alberta. Glenbow Library and Archives, UCalgary: NA-598-12.
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- Halloween prank at Blairmore, Alberta, early 1920s. Glenbow Library and Archives, UCalgary: NA-3903-21.
The Treats
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- Children in Halloween costumes, 1967. Glenbow Library and Archives, UCalgary: NA-4159-36.
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- Halloween party at Providence Creche, Calgary, 1958. Glenbow Library and Archives, UCalgary: NA-3041-28.
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- Children in Halloween costumes, Langdon area, Alberta.. 1967. Glenbow Library and Archives, UCalgary: NA-4159-35.
The Costumes
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- Halloween, Calgary, 1954. Glenbow Library and Archives, UCalgary: NA-5600-6045d.
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- Halloween, Calgary, 1954. Glenbow Library and Archives, UCalgary: NA-5600-6045c.
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- Claude Gardiner dressed as a sorcerer, Wineglass Ranch, near Brocket, Alberta, 1907. Glenbow Library and Archives, UCalgary: NA-4035-188.
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- Children in costumes, Delburne, Alberta, 1929. Glenbow Library and Archives, UCalgary: NA-5089-23.
The Parties
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- Frank McMahon’s Halloween party for children, Calgary, Alberta, 1956. Glenbow Library and Archives, UCalgary: NA-5600-8049a.
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- Halloween party at home, Lethbridge, Alberta, 1950s. Glenbow Library and Archives, UCalgary: NA-5327-39.
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- Patients in costumes for Halloween party, Central Alberta sanatorium, Keith, Alberta, late 1920s Glenbow Library and Archives, UCalgary: NA-4762-11.
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- A Halloween party at . Gentles’ farm, Dog Pound, Alberta, 1905. Glenbow Library and Archives, UCalgary: NA-1097-8.
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And please note that the Glenbow Western Research Centre reading room remains closed; however, even though the Glenbow’s library books and archival materials are inaccessible at this time, some research services are still available.