Today, we associate October 31 with candy, costumes, and spooky Halloween decorations. But have you ever thought about why we really celebrate Halloween in the first place and how the ghoulish holiday has evolved over the years? You may also be wondering how the custom of trick-or-treating originally came to be, as well as what characters people used to dress up as back in the day. Believe it or not, there’s a lot of info about vintage Halloween you might not know, like the fact that party planning in the early 1920s would start as early as August, or that apple-bobbing emerged as a popular All Hallow’s Eve pastime (and superstitious matchmaking opportunity!). We took a look back at Halloween fads from every year within the past century, starting with 1916 and working up to present day. Whether you’re interested in learning about the haunted occasion the year you were born or just want to curb your Halloween curiosity, take a zombie crawl down memory lane with every tradition, fun fact, and pop culture inspiration that’s emerged from October 31. Ready for a spooky look back at the history of Halloween in America? Read on, if you dare.

