<P> Lesley Bannatyne and Cindy Ott both write that Anglican colonists in the Southern United States and Catholic colonists in Maryland `` recognized All Hallow 's Eve in their church calendars '' , although the Puritans of New England maintained strong opposition to the holiday , along with other traditional celebrations of the established Church , including Christmas . Almanacs of the late 18th and early 19th century give no indication that Halloween was widely celebrated in North America . It was not until mass Irish and Scottish immigration in the 19th century that Halloween became a major holiday in North America . Confined to the immigrant communities during the mid-19th century , it was gradually assimilated into mainstream society and by the first decade of the 20th century it was being celebrated coast to coast by people of all social , racial and religious backgrounds . `` In Cajun areas , a nocturnal Mass was said in cemeteries on Halloween night . Candles that had been blessed were placed on graves , and families sometimes spent the entire night at the graveside '' . </P>
<P> Lesley Bannatyne and Cindy Ott both write that Anglican colonists in the Southern United States and Catholic colonists in Maryland `` recognized All Hallow 's Eve in their church calendars '' , although the Puritans of New England maintained strong opposition to the holiday , along with other traditional celebrations of the established Church , including Christmas . Almanacs of the late 18th and early 19th century give no indication that Halloween was widely celebrated in North America . It was not until mass Irish and Scottish immigration in the 19th century that Halloween became a major holiday in North America . Confined to the immigrant communities during the mid-19th century , it was gradually assimilated into mainstream society and by the first decade of the 20th century it was being celebrated coast to coast by people of all social , racial and religious backgrounds . `` In Cajun areas , a nocturnal Mass was said in cemeteries on Halloween night . Candles that had been blessed were placed on graves , and families sometimes spent the entire night at the graveside '' . </P>
when did halloween become a holiday in the us
when did halloween become a holiday in the us
19th century
19th century