What simple Halloween costume consists of a long black robe and a skull mask? The Grim Reaper. This costume represents a hooded skeletal personification of death, typically dressed in black and carrying a large scythe.
The image combines several older European symbols. Medieval art, especially art influenced by the Black Death in the 14th century, often portrayed death as a skeleton. The scythe connected death with harvesting, suggesting that lives are gathered in the same way a farmer cuts grain.
The complete modern appearance developed gradually rather than arriving as one ancient character. Black clothing became associated with mourning and funerals, while the hooded skeleton and scythe became increasingly familiar in the 19th century. The name “Grim Reaper” itself first appeared in English print in the 1840s.