Parents and kids are scrambling to put the final touches on costumes and Jack-o’-lanterns, not to mention stocking up on candy for tonight’s trick or treaters. However, over the years, the celebration has seen a lot of changes.

Before you head out for an evening of creepy festivities, here’s a look back at the origins of Halloween and all of its traditions.

Halloween can be traced back about 2,000 years to a pre-Christian Celtic festival held around November 1 called Samhain, which loosely translates to “summer’s end.” On Samhain eve—what we know as Halloween—spirits were thought to walk the Earth as they traveled to the afterlife. While today’s Halloween does look a bit different, the crazy costumes, crisp weather and festive decorations continue to make it a favorite holiday.

From the extravagant to the simple, a large part of Halloween are the costumes. From the Pizza Slice costume to light-up masks, there’s a costume for everyone – including your four-legged friends. Below is design patent that allows your pet to be dressed up as a toy surfer riding a surfboard!

 

Halloween wouldn’t be what it is without the decorations. The classic Jack-O-Lantern is a front porch staple, but adding tombstones and floating ghosts will have kids and adults alike get into the spooky spirit even more. The decorative ghosts are simply made out of a flexible sheet that can be draped over objects. This gives the object the appearance that they are floating.

At the end of the evening, what’s Halloween without candy? While surprising to some, intellectual property plays a significant role amongst candy makers. One of the most widely known chocolate manufacturers is Hershey Chocolate Corporation. Hershey, established in 1894, was granted the trademark for the original Hershey Chocolate bar in 1906. These same chocolate bars are handed out and enjoyed by kids and adults alike on Halloween. Some of them are even themed to look like chocolate tombstones!

Candy Corn is another autumn candy favorite. The yellow, orange, and white candy originated in Pennsylvania in the 1880s by George Renninger. The Goelitz Confectionery Company, manufacturer of Candy Corn, received the trademark for the popular candy in 1997.

Whether you’re handing out candy, taking your kiddos out trick or treating or enjoying the treats and sweets surrounding the holiday, we at Suiter Swantz want to wish you a Spook-tacular Halloween!

For more Halloween-themed intellectual property, check out our annual Spooky IP video above.


Suiter Swantz IP is a full-service intellectual property law firm providing client-centric patenttrademark, and copyright services. If you need assistance with an intellectual property matter and would like to speak with one of our attorneys, please contact us at info@suiter.com.