These ensembles signify a basic, usually humorous, role-playing situation steadily adopted throughout the Halloween season. The costumes sometimes encompass apparel that mimics legislation enforcement uniforms for one participant, and clothes suggestive of a prison for the opposite. For instance, one costume may embrace a police badge, hat, and darkish blue clothes, whereas the opposing costume might characteristic a striped shirt, eye masks, and bag labeled “swag.”
The enduring reputation of those character representations stems from the well-defined and broadly understood dynamic between legislation and dysfunction. This inherent rigidity permits for frolicsome interplay and the chance to discover contrasting personas inside a festive context. The symbolic nature of those decisions has continued via numerous cultural shifts, providing a readily recognizable and simply adaptable theme for celebratory occasions.