The Quick Answer
Orange links to the autumn harvest and pumpkins; black links to long nights and darkness. Both were popularized by early 20th-century Halloween decorations.
The Story
Halloween falls at the end of harvest and the beginning of winter's darker days. Printed decorations, party guides and postcards in the early 1900s commonly used orange and black, and the pairing stuck.
Legend vs. History
Claims that the colours come directly from ancient Celtic rituals aren't well supported.
Tell the Kids
“Orange is like pumpkins and autumn leaves. Black is like the dark night sky.”
Did You Know?
Early Halloween party guides from department stores and paper companies helped make orange and black the 'official' colours.
Try This Tradition
Pick one dinner this week where everything is orange or black — carrots, olives, sweet potatoes!