Happy Halloween!

Curator Cat Frankie has a special message:

“Yo ho ho and a bag of salmon treats!” :)

Frankie loves his bow tie, but he’s not as pleased with his pirate hat and coat! Still, there are many historical traditions of dressing up in costumes. The idea is often to deceive or distract ghosts or demons who might intend to whisk you away or cause mischief. Old superstitions about spirits coming to “steal someone away” were very common—in fact, they even led to some modern wedding traditions! Historians trace the concept of a bridal party and having bridesmaids dressed up in pretty frocks back to a superstitious desire to trick any demons (or jilted lovers!) who might turn up at a wedding to abduct the bride. Faced with not one but several women in lovely attire, the spirit would become confused and give up!

On Halloween, of course, everyone can have fun dressing up and scaring off ghosts. Even Curator Cats!