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What a week! Beggars night made national news thanks to Caitlin Clark, why do we celebrate that? Also have a major Presidential election, will Iowa change colors? Has it always been red? It may seem like a weird time in Iowa, but Iowans have always been just a little… well, weird. State Historical Society Curator, Leo Landis tells us why.
Some Iowans still observe beggar’s night but although it never caught on nationally, a few other cities did join for a while. Landis explains why hooligan behavior started it, and we also discuss why our elections used to have separate ballots for Democrats and Republicans. (Imagine the ugly looks from your neighbors!) Was Iowa always a red state, or blue state? Or was it purple?
Landis explains the fascinating roots of Iowa’s Halloween traditions, political history, and the influence of local customs.
Why Does Des Moines, Iowa Have Beggars’ Night?
Beggars’ Night is a unique Iowa tradition where kids trick-or-treat on October 30 instead of Halloween night itself. This year, in 2024 kids will trick-or-treat on Halloween night itself, which is rare.
The Beggars’ Night tradition was originally aimed at reducing Halloween shenanigans. Landis humorously explores how this tradition originated in the early 20th century when adolescents’ pranks, like rolling boulders into roads or soaping windows, became common in Des Moines and other parts of Iowa. “It was really a way to make the trick-or-treating experience more wholesome and more socially good as opposed to causing mischief.” Landis explained, recounting that Des Moines police reported 500 incidents of Halloween vandalism in 1938 alone.
Landis provides insight into why Beggars’ Night didn’t spread widely across the U.S. “It did catch on in some areas,” he says, noting that only a few places outside Iowa still observe the tradition. Through the 1930s and 40s, city leaders like Catherine Krieg, Des Moines’ Parks Superintendent, advocated for a safer Halloween by encouraging children to share jokes instead of pranks. This shift aimed to transform the evening into a community-oriented, family-friendly event. Although Landis points out the tradition has faced calls for change, he advocates for its continuity, saying, “I think it makes us distinct as Central Iowans to keep it going.”
Was Iowa always a red state? Nope.
Landis also traced Iowa’s voting history and the shifting colors of its political landscape. For nearly a century, Iowa was a red (Republican) state from 1856 until the Great Depression’s onset in 1932. Landis recounts a humorous expression from that era: “Iowa will go Democratic when hell goes Methodist.” He explains how the state, predominantly Republican, finally turned blue (Democratic) in 1932 as economic hardship reshaped political loyalties. Landis highlights prominent Iowan political figures, such as James B. Weaver, the first Iowan to earn electoral votes as a third-party Populist candidate in 1892, and Herbert Hoover, Iowa’s only native son to serve as U.S. president.
Republicans and Democrats Had Their Own Ballots?
Landis also touched on Iowa’s unique approach to ballots before 1892, when voters openly requested party-specific tickets, leaving no privacy in their choice. This changed when Iowa adopted the “blanket ballot,” modernizing voting and contributing to the state’s shift towards contemporary political norms.
In closing, Landis previews the State Historical Society of Iowa’s plans for Veterans Day, spotlighting exhibits like Iowa’s Civil War display and digital tributes to fallen Iowan soldiers. These stories, from Halloween mischief to political evolution, highlight the richness of Iowa’s history and its continued influence on community values today.