Halloween or Hallowe'en?

[TheHeadlessHorseman]

When I was growing up we only knew of one way to spell Halloween and it wasn't until I was in my 20's that I saw it spelled with a apostrophe for the first time. I've noticed it showing up more lately and it got me curious, I started going through old Halloween photos online looking for any examples of Halloween spelled with a apostrophe on decorations, or advertising.

I looked at photos from the early days of Halloween to the present, from America, Canada, and the U.K., and the earliest example I found using the apostrophe was from the 1950's on a few greeting cards and ads. So I was wondering, where did this version of the word come from?

I asked Google and this was the answer.

The spelling of Halloween derives from its earlier name All Hallows Even (or eve) which took place the night before All Hallows Day, now known as All Saints Day. All Hallows Even was shortened to Hallowe'en, and later to Halloween.

I find it interesting that this version of the word has been around for that long but I only noticed it when I was in my 20's. I guess it might depend on where and when you grew up, but it just feels weird for me to even type the word Halloween with a apostrophe. How about any of you? Which do you prefer to use?

On a side note, while I was typing this post this website is telling me that the version of Halloween with a apostrophe is spelled wrong.

AG_Vintage_Halloween_1900A.jpg (593.86 KiB) Viewed 5633 times

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[Andybev01]

I like the old spelling in proper context, like old postcards and decorations.

Used in contemporary settings I find it pretentious, like people who use 'whilst' to excess...or at all.

[Murfreesboro]

Right. It's an older spelling, left from when people knew it was a contraction of "even(ing)." I would never write it that way, but I understand where it comes from.