Reviving Victorian Halloween Customs

All Hallow's Greeting Cards

Perhaps the most neglected of Victorian Halloween customs today is the sending of charming Halloween greetings. Victorian greeting cards weren’t frightening for the most part. Instead, sentiments focused on good wishes and charming rhymes about Halloween customs of the day. Some would refer to traditions like fortune cakes that held charms and indicated your future. Others might wish you good luck in discovering your “true love” on Halloween night.

Victorian Halloween cards were elaborately decorated, much like the jewelry of the time. Popular Halloween elements such as witches, pumpkins, owls, and black cats were used. Halloween greeting cards of the time also usually had foil gilding and a touch of romance. (Take a peak at Halloween Jewelry for a sampling of these elements.)

Making your own Victorian Halloween cards is a fun way to share the holiday with your family and friends. You can use scrap-booking cut-outs, details from magazines and trim such as raffia or autumn colored ribbon on card stock to design your own Victorian style Halloween cards. Just a few simple lines wishing the receiver good luck or a simple fortune will complete your homemade cards.

Tuck your Halloween greetings into envelopes with a few bits of festive confetti in shapes like jack-o-lanterns or bats and send them out to your friends and family for a festive way to remind them you’re thinking of them. This old Victorian Halloween custom will bring a smile to their faces in between the rush of costume-making and trick-or-treat runs with the kids!

Written by: Joanmarie Moccia
Joanmarie has designed heirloom-quality Victorian style jewelry for over 18 years. Her collection of handcrafted Victorian era reproductions includes a large assortment of Novelty Earrings, including her perfect for Halloween Pumpkin Earrings.