Halloween in Santa Ana, 1894

Halloween didn't get rolling as a holiday in America until the 1840s, when waves of Irish immigrants came to this country. Even as late as 1889, the celebration of Halloween was novel enough in Southern California that the Los Angeles Times saw fit to explain it to their readers:

"It is the night of all others, when spirits walk abroad, and is observed with an immense consumption of nuts and apples. The apples were once set floating in a tub of water, into which the juveniles by turn ducked their heads in order to catch one of the fruit."

Mentions of Halloween celebrations in Orange County began to appear in the local newspapers in the mid-1880s, but are rare until the early 1890s. So far, one of the earliest detailed descriptions I've found is of a Halloween Party in Santa Ana, as reported in the Times, Nov. 2, 1894 :

"A circle of young people passed a very pleasant season in the G.A.R. Hall Wednesday evening in celebrating All Saints' day. The mysteries of 'ye olden time' were delved into by the young people in a pleasant and interesting manner and many were the happy surprises enjoyed by them all. At a late hour refreshments of tamales, coffee and sandwiches, furnished and prepared by the gentlemen, were served, after which toasts were responded to by Messers. E.B. Turner, Lou Hickox and John Nourse.

It was the hour of midnight before the party, composed of the following ladies and gentlemen, departed for their homes: Misses Conley, Collins, Clara and Grace Carpenter, Flook, Mansur, Padgam, Stone, Walker, Clara and Maye Wight and Messrs. Heron, Caskey, Gould, Nourse, Chilton, Hasel, Hervey, Turner, Hickox, McIntier, Bell and Carpenter."

The Los Angeles Evening Express provided yet more detail:

"A Hallowe'en party was given last night by about twenty-five young people in the G.A.R. hall, where several interesting speeches were made. Ellis Turner gave the history of Hallowe'en, while John Nours talked of our lady friends and Lou Hickox gave a history of the tamale, which formed the prominent part of their refreshments for the evening. A general good time was had."

So,... They celebrated Halloween by eating Mexican food and staying up late talking about history. I'm a little annoyed that I didn't get to attend! . For the record, the G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) Hall was on the southeast corner of Main and 4th St. and is now long gone. .