For the evolution of holidays, 19th century America is a particularly interesting case. The mixing of various European cultures created some dramatic changes. S

For the evolution of holidays, 19th century America is a particularly interesting case. The mixing of various European cultures created some dramatic changes. Second, these changes happened relatively quickly. For example, Halloween evolved from an ancient Celtic harvest festival to the modern spooks & treats celebration between the 1850s and 1890s. Finally, the force of American culture after WW2 spread these recently created traditions around the world. While Christmas in the USA has an interesting history, the most dramatic is with Halloween. The major thematic development occurred from the 1850s to 1930s, with heightened commercialization coming in the post-WW2 boom. Then there was the rise of adult oriented horror in the 1970s. There are a few good histories on the subject.