What was Halloween like in America during the first year of World War II?

By October 1942, sugar rationing, scrap drives, and wartime precautions were becoming familiar parts of everyday life. But Halloween celebrations continued, complete with homemade costumes, jack-o'-lanterns, parties, dances, and plenty of seasonal treats!

In this episode of On the Victory Homefront, we're stepping back into October 1942 to discover how Americans celebrated their first Halloween since entering the war.

From Chicago's proposed "Conservation Day" and warnings about Halloween pranks to the Junior Commandos, a Cinderella Dance for servicemen, and actual Halloween recipes published in 1942 newspapers, we'll explore the holiday through the stories of the people who experienced it.

We'll also take a look at familiar candies that were already available in 1942, including Hershey's, Tootsie Rolls, Baby Ruth, and more!

If you enjoy WWII homefront history, 1940s traditions, vintage recipes, and the everyday stories of Americans during the war, I hope you'll join me.

Remember, victory is in the everyday.