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Massachusetts State Seal
Commonwealth Museum   Secretary of the Commonwealth William Francis Galvin
Commonwealth Museum Secretary of the Commonwealth William Francis Galvin

Salem – Halloween Capital of Massachusetts

Background photo by Fletcher6 (Own work) CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.
Photo by Fletcher6 (Own work) CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

In modern day Salem, Halloween is a serious event and major boost to the economy.
The obvious connection is the association of witches with both Salem and Halloween. There is some irony since, as explained, Halloween was not the kind of event that appealed to Massachusetts Puritans. 

The Salem witch trials were serious events with long-term historical impact. Visitors to the Commonwealth Museum can take a test to determine if they would have been considered a witch in 1692 Salem. They can also see documents associated with the trials.