 Halloween costume, Halloween costumes are costumes worn on or around Halloween, the festival which falls on October 31. An early reference to wearing costumes at Halloween comes from Scotland in 1585, but they may predate this. There are many references to the custom during the 18th and 19th centuries in the Celtic countries of Scotland, Ireland, manned and Wales. It has been suggested that the custom comes from the Celtic festivals of Samhain and Calentief, or from the practice of Soling during the Christian observance of all Hallowtide. Wearing costumes and mumming has long been associated with festivals at other times of the year, such as on Christmas. Halloween costumes are traditionally based on frightening supernatural or folkloric beings. However, by the 1930s costumes based on characters in max media such as film, literature and radio were popular. Halloween costumes have tended to be worn mainly by young people, but since the mid-20th century they have been increasingly worn by adults also.