The Halloween EncyclopediaThe concept of Halloween as a holiday and cultural phenomenon worthy of serious study is only a few decades old, and only since the mid-1980s have scholars started to accept that Halloween's place in modern society (especially in American society) merits attention beyond horror fiction and children's books. The first book devoted solely to Halloween was published just over a century ago, and now, Halloween has its own encyclopedia. Major entries include Samhain, the Celtic ancestor of Halloween; witches, a major Christian addition to the mythology of Halloween and one that still generates interest and controversy; skeletons, a universally recognized symbol of death; the Day of the Dead, the Mexican holiday that is often compared to Halloween; the jack-o'-lantern, which has its roots in folktales starring the rascally Jack who always manages somehow to beat the Devil; and trick-or-treating, the most loved and misunderstood American Halloween ritual. Hundreds of small entries cover Halloween history and mythology, fortune-telling lore, harvest legends, and 20th century additions to the holiday's rituals. |
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Common terms and phrases
areas believed BELTANE black cat bobbing for apples bonfires bowls BOXTY boys Britain burned cabbage cake calendar called candle candy Celtic Celts century Christmas church corn costumes custom involved dead death decorating devil Devil's Night divination door dreams Druids ebrated fairies feast festival film fire Folklore FORTUNE FORTUNE-TELLING FORTUNE-TELLING customs future husband future spouse ghosts girl Guleesh Guy Fawkes Day Halloween celebrations Halloween FORTUNE-TELLING Halloween night Halloween party Halloween pranking Halloween Tree harvest haunted house held HOGMANAY holiday house-to-house Ireland Irish Jack jack-o'-lantern kale lanterns legend loween Martinmas masks MUMMING noisemakers November nuts October 31 offered one's future pagan parade placed Pomona postcard practice pumpkin rhyme ring ritual Roman Saints Samhain Scotland Scottish sometimes souls spirits story Tam Lin TELLING custom ticktacks tion Tlachtga tradition trick or treat variation WICCA witches young