Quick history lesson: When did we start dressing up our dogs for Halloween? We will explore this tradition and how it evolved into a pop culture phenomenon.
We Will Start Here: Over 2,000 Years Ago
Let’s take a step back in time—more than 2,000 years ago, the Celtic festival of Samhain was celebrated on November 1st. The Celts believed that the night before, October 31st, the parallel universe of the living and the dead was thin, allowing spirits to cross over to Earth. The people would protect themselves with bonfires and costumes. As Christianity spread, Samhain gradually evolved into All Hallows’ Eve, the night before, and the modern Halloween we celebrate today.
Halloween: The American Tradition
Halloween gained popularity in the U.S. during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, influenced by the Irish and Scottish people who brought their traditions with them. Early Halloween costumes were typically homemade and focused on eerie, spooky themes, often imitating ghosts, witches, and other supernatural entities. By the mid-20th century, Halloween costumes became commercialized and mass-produced, featuring movies and superhero characters and shifting towards more mainstream, recognizable looks.
Dressing Up Dogs
This became widespread more recently, likely gaining momentum in the late 20th century and exploding in popularity in the early 21st century. Pet ownership has increased, and dogs are now seen as family members, sparking trends like pet costumes. Halloween dog costumes have surged in popularity, with retailers now offering various dog outfits, ranging from pumpkins and bats to pop culture references like superheroes and TV characters.
Core Memory: The Family Halloween Night
Halloween is a core family memory and dogs must be included in the celebrations! In the 2010s, the rise of social media like Instagram and Pinterest played a pivotal role in popularizing pet costumes, sharing their pets dressed up for the holiday. Pet costume contests and events also became common, further fueling the love of the trend. Today, dressing up dogs has become a fun and huge part of Halloween festivities. Major retailers offering entire collections of pet costumes. From classic themes to pop culture-inspired outfits, dressing up pets is a popular way for pet parents to spark some joy and imerse themselves in the Halloween spirit.
On this side of the internet, it’s about timeless themes!
Halloween dog costumes must embrace the following: cute, cozy, affordable, comfortable, and classic. Here are some of the top trending ideas:
- Ghost– A cute and classic way to celebrate this year
- Bat Wings – Easy and affordable and goes with any theme
- Walking Teddy Bear – This is a funny costume when you walk your dog around your neighborhood.
- Lion’s Main – Realistic and funny outfit Classic for your King of the Jungle dogs
- Sunflower – A festive and comfortable costume for your pup!
- Cowgirl/Cowboy – This is a cute and simple costume for your dog.
- Pumpkin-Cute and cozy for your dog’s first Halloween; you can’t go wrong.
- Shark– Always in style for the cute little land shark dog in your family
- Witch-Another timeless costume
There’s a look for every dog, have fun and happy almost Halloween friends!