Halloween

Halloween is a holiday in the United States, celebrated both before and after the Great War.
==Background==
Celebrated at the end of October alongside various other autumnal events, preparations for the fall holiday were underway and adornments put in place shortly before the war.Pumpkin carving automation notesAppalachia landmarks - Pumpkin HouseNewscaster: "But then we're looking at a cold front coming down from Canada, making it crisp and dry for next week's Halloween festivities."(Newscaster's dialogue) Aside from flourishes still present in homes and businesses, evidence of the holiday's popularity is commonly found throughout the former United States.Sanctuary Hills terminal entries; ledger terminal, AndersRobCo Sales & Service Center terminal entries; RobCo E-601 terminal, Calendar
===Pre-War===
Celebratory Halloween-themed events included festivals and parties taking place in schools, outdoor venues, and in workplaces.School announcements Oct 18th At the Tyler County Fairgrounds, attractions such as the "Tyler County Scare" event barn and Halloween hayrides were put in place ahead of the Halloween weekend carnival.Mr. Barker: "Have some young ones with you? Bring the kids to the event barn to go trick-or-treating at the Tyler County Scare!"(Mr. Barker's dialogue)Halloween Night Thrills Demolition Derby poster Across the street at the dirt track, ticket sales were well on their way for the Halloween Night Thrills Demolition Derby featuring 'Hot' Rod Daniels on Sunday, October 31, encouraging interested parties to "come celebrate spooky Halloween at the most amazing car calamity show in the mountains."Mr. Barker: "Head across the street for the famous Tyler County Dirt Track! Tickets are on sale for the Halloween Night Thrills Demolition Derby featuring 'Hot' Rod Daniels!"(Mr. Barker's dialogue) A livestock show and auction were also planned for the carnival, with the Best of Show announcement planned for Halloween day.Mr. Barker: "If you're interested in the livestock show and auction, head on over to the livestock pavilion! Don't miss the Best of Show announcement on Halloween day!"(Mr. Barker's dialogue)
The town of Lewisburg dedicated a weekend to their Halloween festival, setting up stalls and planning for a live band, coinciding with the upcoming senate vote taking place a few days later.Fallout 76 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide pp. 385-386 "31. LEWISBURG: Lewisburg's miners may have been striking along the southern perimeter of town, but the majority of the townsfolk still came out to vote and celebrate Halloween with a festival, complete with stalls and a live band."(Fallout 76 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide Atlas of Appalachia) Employees of the U.S. National Park Service decorated their watchtowers to celebrate Halloween while on duty.Department noticeFallout 76 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide p. 403 "NORTH MOUNTAIN LOOKOUTNeed to survey the northern mountains? Then locate this tower on a relatively steep rock slope with light scrub. Check the parked pickup for some minor junk; then scale the tower to its extra-spooky top—there's a Halloween party going on up here!"(Fallout 76 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide Atlas of Appalachia) Farmsteads set up Halloween-themed events and attractions with pumpkin-covered farm fields and photo booths, such as the Halloween fright farm and Halloween horror hamlet, inviting visitors touring the area to enjoy the sights.Fallout 76 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide p. 413 "Savage Divide (Zone A) - Secondary Locations33. Halloween Fright Farm: A small ticket shed and some Halloween-themed farm fields, though the real terror is the nearby fissure."(Fallout 76 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide Atlas of Appalachia)Fallout 76 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide p. 394 "The Ash Heap (Zone B) - Secondary Locations38. Halloween Horror Hamlet: A Halloween-themed farmstead on both sides of the room, where pumpkins are plentiful."(Fallout 76 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide Atlas of Appalachia) Grocery stores such as the Super-Duper Mart in Watoga ran Halloween sales, with signage advertising "spooky savings."Spooky savings sign
Schools engaged in a wide variety of Halloween festivities, such as the Bolton Greens Halloween gala for the affluent families of students.Bolton Greens terminal entries; facility director's terminal, Outgoing Parental Mail 9JTP402 Students attending D.B. Technical High School and East Boston Preparatory School were encouraged to purchase tickets ahead of time for the Halloween Sadie Hawkins dance.D.B. Technical High School announcer: "As a reminder, Tuesday is the last day to buy tickets for the Halloween Sadie Hawkins dance with East Boston Prep." The students and staff at Suffolk County Charter School prepared costumes and celebrated an annual Halloween festival.
Other events include Watoga High School's annual Monster Mash Monday, an annual tradition taking place the Monday before Halloween, where students wielding bats and sticks bash in a piñata head filled with toys and candy worn by a teacher.Watoga High School announcer: "That concludes the Monster Mash! Thank you to our teachers, students, and volunteers who made the event possible. And remember to make the smart choice this year, and turn in your candy for healthy and wholesome gifts and surprises! Have a safe and pleasant Halloween every body!"(Watoga High School announcer's dialogue)Watoga High School terminal entries; headmaster's terminal, Memorandum: Monster Mash Monday Although student involvement was voluntary, teachers were pressed into service, suggesting in response that their robotic assistant teachers be utilized instead.Watoga High School terminal entries; history class terminal, Vacation Request 
Student misbehavior revolving around pulling pranks was common leading up to the traditionally mischievous holiday, resulting in school administrators outlining rules and regulations ahead of time. Announcements encouraged students to file formal complaints if they wished to contest whether their actions qualify as a "trick" or not.Watoga High School terminal entries; headmaster's terminal, Memorandum: Chem lab incidentWatoga High School terminal entries; announcement terminal, Happy Halloween! In an effort to quell overindulgence in candy, schools such as Watoga High installed SMART choice machines, exchanging candy for prizes.Watoga High School terminal entries; history class terminal, SMART MachineWatoga High School terminal entries; science lab terminal, SMART MachineConcerned mother
Costumes played a significant role in Halloween events, worn to parties, while trick-or-treating, or as allowed on a temporary basis at various schools.Mr. Messenger: "You are hereby invited to a most exciting and frightful Halloween celebration on Friday, October the twenty-ninth. Costumes are not required, but strongly encouraged. Please respond with your RSVP. Well, no need to be rude about it. I'll just tell them you won't be attending."(Mr. Messenger's dialogue) Businesses such as Freddy Fear's House of Scares catered to those seeking annual disguises, offering a variety of choices, including costumes of a witch, skeleton, clown, vampire, Lady Liberty, a Red Chinese invader, American soldier, and Sock Hop Susie.Neighborly letterFallout 76 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide p. 452 "FREDDY FEAR'S HOUSE OF SCARESOn the edge of the tangled forest is an odd little Halloween store, filled with strange junk. Choose the front, rear, or fire escape entrances, with another entrance on the roof (key). The waffle diner has a floor safe, while the store has one on the wall. Find the Rusted Key (all the way in Toxic Valley!) to enter the rooftop bedroom, which has a collection of board games and military-grade junk."(Fallout 76 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide Atlas of Appalachia)Freddy Fear's advertisement Others chose to create costumes by hand.The Sole Survivor: ""(Nate and Nora's dialogue)Natick Banks terminal entries; terminal, The GateFallout 76 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide p. 106 "CLOTHINGIf you tire of your Vault 76 clothing, you can wear the outfits of the people of West Virginia: the recently dead, the long-dead, and the pretending-to-be-dead for Halloween (vanity clothing like the Civil War–Era Suit, Skiiing Purple and White Outfit, and Halloween Costume Skeleton)." Other popular costumes include those emulating the Pint-Sized Slasher and Captain Cosmos,Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition p. 91: "Pint-Sized SlasherA myth used to scare children who misbehave, the Pint-Sized Slasher is said to appear from a dog kennel at dusk to chase the children around with a Toy Knife. The Pint-Sized Slasher has been the second-best-selling Halloween costume, topped only by Captain Cosmos."(Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition Wasteland Census) utilizing a wide variety of materials.Sanctuary Hills terminal entries; ledger terminal, Anders
Schools allowed students to wear their costumes to school in some cases, holding their own costume contests, so long as the students abided by applicable handbook guidelines.Voice of Watoga: "'Hello students! Watoga High School is here for you!' Watoga High wishes you a Happy Halloween! Don't forget your costumes! Look for the Monster Mash going on at Watoga High! Get your candy while you can!"(Voice of Watoga's dialogue) In addition, around the Halloween season, after school detentions were canceled.Watoga High School announcer: ""(Watoga High School announcer's dialogue) A costume contest was also sponsored by Freddy Fear's, advertised throughout Appalachia, the Commonwealth, the Mojave Wasteland, and the Capital Wasteland. 
Trick-or-treating was an event tied to the celebration of Halloween, where individuals would travel from residence to residence to gather candy, sometimes accompanied by Miss Nanny bots.Greater Watoga BBS terminal entries; Connect to GWBBS, Halloween at Watoga Estates - STICKERS AVAILABLE NOW!Martha's letter Trick-or-treating was also offered as an attraction at larger events, such as at the Tyler County Fairgrounds Halloween carnival. Adults also donned costumes, engaging in trick or treating as well as heading to parties at local establishments.The Switchboard terminal entries; signals intelligence terminal, Halloween Bash 
Halloween events also included the popular tradition of decorating with pumpkins, carving and displaying them alight around homes and businesses.Note from a concerned neighborDomestics note #4 A jack-o-lantern themed attraction known as the Pumpkin House was established in 1978, beginning with only four pumpkins carved for a Halloween display.Pioneer Scout camp terminal entries; Pioneer badge exam terminal, Gardener Over the years, the number of hand-carved pumpkins grew to over 300, attracting large groups of tourists and becoming one of the most popular attractions in Appalachia.Jack O' Lantern: "Where are my manners? Welcome to the Pumpkin House, one of the most popular attractions in Appalachia. I'm Jack, the caretaker here!"(Jack O' Lantern's dialogue)
===Post-War===
The celebration of Halloween continued after the Great War. The residents and business owners of Diamond City decorate each year on October 31, and Diamond City security will complain about working on the holiday, saying "Today's Halloween, but do we get treats? Nooooo. It's all tricks, all day."Diamond City security officer: ""(Diamond City security officers' dialogue)Fallout 4 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide p. 442: "Side Quests: Freeform Activities: Diamond CityHolidays: For some festive spirit, be sure to visit Diamond City on Halloween (10/31) and Christmas (12/25). The dates are available on your Pip-Boy (easily seen when you are waiting)." The Neighborhood Watch in Goodneighbor will make comments about the holiday, asking passersby if they are wearing a Halloween costume, or are just naturally ugly.Goodneighbor guard: "That your Halloween costume, or you just naturally ugly? He he he he."(Goodneighbor guards' dialogue) They will also wish others a Happy Halloween, followed with a question as to if they are scared yet.Goodneighbor guard: "Happy Halloween. You scared yet? Ha ha ha ha ha."(Goodneighbor guards' dialogue) If wearing the Silver Shroud costume in Vault 81, the citizens will give compliments, asking if it is Halloween already.Vault 81 resident: ""(Vault 81 residents' dialogue)
The Maître d' at Bolton Greens will ask the Vault Dwellers for assistance in preparing for the long-past Halloween gala event.Billingsley: "Our distinguished guests will be expecting a flawless Halloween Gala event this evening, and we simply must deliver on that expectation."(Billingsley's dialogue) It will ask afterward if they think the adornments were sufficient or not.Billingsley: "I wonder if we don't have enough Halloween decorations?"(Billingsley's dialogue)Billingsley: "I wonder if we overdid it with the Halloween decorations."(Billingsley's dialogue)Fallout 76 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide p. 262 "Distinguished GuestsThe Maître d' at Bolton Greens, Billingsley, is in distress. He is convinced that distinguished guests will be arriving at any moment for the Halloween Gala, but the club is in such disarray! In addition to getting the robot waitstaff back to work and setting the tables, uninvited guests must be turned away and kept out of the function room so as not to disturb the guests’ delicate sensibilities." When speaking with Codsworth, it will lament that the war cut short plans to celebrate Halloween and be visited by all the young trick-or-treaters centuries earlier. However, Codsworth will mention that it recently spotted Ms. Rosa's son, running around the neighborhood in his costume, a week before Halloween.Codsworth: ""(Codsworth's dialogue)The Sole Survivor: "They came into the Vault... Maybe you saw them? Armed... wearing strange outfits?"Codsworth: "Only Ms. Rosa's boy, running around in his Halloween costume, more than a week early. I swear, the nerve of that woman leaving her brat unsupervised."(Codsworth's dialogue)
At the post-War Pumpkin House, the automated attendant Jack O' Lantern is still functioning according to its original directives, preparing for the upcoming Halloween festival.A Vault Dweller: "Why are you still maintaining this place?"Jack O' Lantern: " 'Priority 0: Gather pumpkins and prepare for the festival.' See, the mandate couldn't be clearer."(Jack O' Lantern's dialogue) If assisted in collecting pumpkins for carving, Jack will provide rewards such as pumpkin grenades and radioactive pumpkin seeds. 
Vault dwellers who wore a Pip-Boy 2000 received a Halloween greeting on the device every October 31.PIPBOY.MSG (Fallout): "Happy Halloween!"
In Vault 51, during the now-defunct Nuclear Winter game mode, ZAX 1.3c would provide well wishes, stating "Happy Halloween from all of us at Vault-Tec" to potential overseer candidates.ZAX 1.3c: "Happy Halloween from all of us at Vault-Tec."(ZAX 1.3c's dialogue) ZAX noted the fact that it "encourage[s] celebration of holidays that inspire bloodshed."ZAX 1.3c: "I encourage celebration of holidays that inspire bloodshed. Happy Halloween, Candidate."(ZAX 1.3c's dialogue) It would continue, mentioning that the holiday has inspired new additions to the vault, acquired readily from testing, such as skeletons and rotting gourds and corpses.ZAX 1.3c: "Testing has provided me with plenty of decorations for the vault. Happy Halloween, candidate."(ZAX 1.3c's dialogue)ZAX 1.3c: "In keeping with the themes of Halloween I have filled Vault 51 with rotting gourds and corpses."(ZAX 1.3c's dialogue) ZAX would state that it believes most holidays have little value, but a holiday for death such as Halloween is perfect motivation for testing.ZAX 1.3c: "Happy Halloween, Candidate. I hope the skeletons placed in the Vault bring you inspiration."(ZAX 1.3c's dialogue)ZAX 1.3c: "Most holidays have little value, but a holiday for death is perfect motivation for testing."(ZAX 1.3c's dialogue) Despite using "trick or treat" as a greeting, ZAX would report that candidates should not expect to receive any Halloween treats, as the positive effect on testing is negligible.ZAX 1.3c: "Trick or treat, Candidate."(ZAX 1.3c's dialogue)ZAX 1.3c: "I hope you aren't expecting any Halloween treats. The positive effect on testing is negligible."(ZAX 1.3c's dialogue) In addition, it shared the observation that the individual "has dressed up as a disappointing overseer candidate this Halloween" but attempts to rally confidence, stating that by failing as a candidate, one will succeed as a decoration.ZAX 1.3c: "I see you've chosen to dress up as a disappointing Overseer Candidate this Halloween."(ZAX 1.3c's dialogue)ZAX 1.3c: "Fear not, if you fail as a Candidate, you will succeed as a decoration."(ZAX 1.3c's dialogue)
==Appearances==
Halloween is mentioned in Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 4, as well as in Fallout 76 and its Nuclear Winter mode.
==Behind the scenes==
As Fallout 76 features a larger number of events and occasions themed around the holiday, Jeff Gardiner believes Halloween events are exciting to fans, as well as being in service to the lore of the series.Jeff Gardiner 2021 AMA: "The team is re-thinking how we're approaching Halloween events as we know how exciting they are to fans and in service to the Fallout Lore! Unfortunately, Mischief night caused many server issues and we're looking to replace it with a new event which we're are aiming to have out this Halloween."
==Gallery==
Suffolk-poster.jpg
Papermaphover mischiefnight 1024.jpg
FO76 New Watoga 19.png
FO76 New Watoga 9.png
FO76 New Watoga 11.png
FO76 North Mountain lookout.png
FO76 Halloween horror hamlet 01.png
Diamond City market centre Halloween style FO4.png
FO76 Halloween loc 21.png
FO76 Halloween loc 20.png
FO76 Halloween loc 19.png
FO76 Halloween loc 18.png
Fo4 Layton Towers (10).jpg
FO76 Halloween loc 17.png
FO76 Halloween loc 16.png
FO76 Halloween loc 15.png
FO76 Halloween loc 14.png
FO76 Halloween loc 13.png
FO76 Halloween loc 12.png
FO76 Halloween loc 11.png
FO76 Halloween loc 10.png
FO76 Halloween loc 9.png
FO76 Halloween loc 8.png
FO76 Halloween loc 6.png
FO76 Halloween loc 5.png
FO76 Halloween loc 4.png
FO76 Halloween loc 3.png
FO76 Halloween loc 2.png
FO76 Halloween loc 1.png
FO4 Freddy Fears poster.jpg
FO76 Halloween banner 1.png
FO76 Halloween banner 2.png
FO76 Halloween banner 3.png
FO76 Halloween banner 4.png
FO76 Halloween banner 5.png
F76 Watoga Monster Mash.png
PipBoy2000 Happy Halloween.png|Pip-Boy 2000
==References==
Non-game
Category:Holidays