Tomorrow is Halloween
Have you ever wondered how your ancestors celebrated Halloween? Curious about my Crawford ancestors, I decided to search those ‘gossipy’ Dodge City newspapers for around the time the family migrated from Indiana to Dodge City (1877-1887). My search turned up some interesting articles.
The first references what was likely traditional ‘shenanigans’ in a rural area.
Halloween made its annual appearance and may have passed unnoticed by many if it had not been manifested, by vehicles, signs, plows and various other articles being disarranged. One man could be seen hunting his buggy, another a wagon wheel, an other a cart and so forth, which brought forth vehement expressions and expressions to the effect if their cart, wagon wheel, or some other article had not been disturbed their peace of mind would not have remained undisturbed. It is remarkable how ell the boys remember a night of so little importance.
“Spearville Splinters,” The Globe Livestock Journal (Dodge City, Kansas) 11 Nov 1884, page 1
Then in an 1887 issue of The Globe Live Stock Journal, we find reference to an interesting tradition.
Editor Globe:
Dodge City, Kas., November 2, 1887
Dear Sir: In the issue of the Dodge City Democrat of Saturday, October 29th we find that someone digging way down into ancient history has discovered the following superstition regarding ladies contemplating or desiring matrimony. “If a single lady wishes good luck and to be married in one year, she must be presented with a pair of yellow garters by a gentleman or lady, to be worn for seven days, beginning the first Saturday after Hallowe’en.”
Being strong believers in this direction and at all times willing to help and aid such movements, we would inform yourself and the general public that we have supplied ourselves with an elegant stock of the “yellow garters” and are ready to fill all calls for them. You will confer a favor by letting the public know that htis article of woman’s comfort and joy may be found at the store of
R. M. Wright 7 Co.,
Dodge City, Kas.
So what was printed in the Dodge City Democrat? On page 3 of the 29 October 1887 issue of the Dodge City Democrat, we find the following:
The ladies in ancient times were as superstitious as those of to-day. In the ruins of ancient Rome was found a scroll on which was written: “If a single lady wishes good luck and to be married within the year, she must be presented with a pair of yellow garters by a gentleman or lady and to be worn for seven days, beginning the first Saturday after Hallowe’en.” It has proved very successful in the east, and our people will confer a favor never to be forgotten by their lady friends to remember them with a pair.
A search of Newspapers.com for “Yellow Garters” turned up similar articles.
- “The Yellow Garter,” Minneapolis Messenger (Minneapolis, Kansas) 13 June 1889, page 7
- “Story of the Yellow Garter,” Daily Mountain Eagle (Jasper, Elabama) 5 Feb 1913, page 7.
- “A Yellow Garter for Easter,” The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, Indiana) 9 Apr 1905, page 36.
- “The Yellow Garter,” Austin American-Statesman (Austin, Texas) 14 Jul 1889, page 9.
So what about you? Have you heard of this ‘yellow garter’ tradition at Halloween and possibly Easter? Do you have a Yellow Garter?