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Idea
Halloween
holidays
16
Viewing 1—16 of 16
The Politics of Trunk or Treat
Nostalgia, idealism, and the policing of childhood.
by
Paul Musgrave
via
Systematic Hatreds
on
October 31, 2023
partner
Halloween: A Mystic and Eerie Significance
Despite the prevalence of tricks and spooky spirits in earlier years, the American commercial holiday didn’t develop until the middle of the twentieth century.
by
Betsy Golden Kellem
via
JSTOR Daily
on
October 26, 2022
Why Do We Carve Pumpkins Into Jack-O'-Lanterns For Halloween?
It's a tale thousands of years in the making.
by
Edgar B. Herwick III
via
WGBH
on
October 29, 2021
The Origins of Halloween Traditions
Carving pumpkins, trick-or-treating, and wearing scary costumes are some of the time-honored traditions of Halloween. But why do we do them?
by
Heather Thomas
via
Library of Congress
on
October 26, 2021
The Twisted Transatlantic Tale of American Jack-o’-Lanterns
Celtic rituals, tricks of nature, and deals with the devil have all played a part in creating this iconic symbol of Halloween.
by
Blane Bachelor
via
National Geographic
on
October 27, 2020
When Halloween Mischief Turned to Mayhem
Nineteenth-century urbanization unleashed the nation's anarchic spirits.
by
Lesley Bannatyne
via
Zócalo Public Square
on
October 26, 2017
Where Our Love/Hate Relationship With Candy Corn Comes From
Halloween's most iconic candy (and its most polarizing) used to be a year-round snack. Then came the candy corn explosion.
by
Samira Kawash
via
The Atlantic
on
October 30, 2010
Salem’s Unholy Bargain: How Tragedy Became an Attraction
Is the cost worth the payoff?
by
Lex Pryor
via
The Ringer
on
October 30, 2023
partner
American Spirit: A History of the Supernatural
On the occasion of Halloween, an exploration of previous generations' fascination with ghosts, spirits, and witches.
via
BackStory
on
October 30, 2015
This House Is Still Haunted: An Essay In Seven Gables
A spectre is haunting houses—the spectre of possession.
by
Adam Fales
via
Dilettante Army
on
February 15, 2022
partner
It Wouldn’t Be Halloween Without Candy. We Have World War I to Thank for That.
Candies of the Halloween season have roots in the sweet treats and real horrors of the Great War.
by
Lora Vogt
via
Made by History
on
October 31, 2021
Has Witch City Lost Its Way?
They’re hip, business-savvy, and know how to cast a spell: How a new generation of witches and warlocks selling $300 wands conquered Salem.
by
Kathryn Miles
via
Boston Magazine
on
October 22, 2021
Zombie Flu: How the 1919 Influenza Pandemic Fueled the Rise of the Living Dead
Did mass graves in the influenza pandemic help give rise to the living dead?
by
Elizabeth Outka
via
The Conversation
on
October 28, 2019
partner
Selling Slashers to Teen Girls
The heroines of 1970s and 80s teen horror movies were traditionally feminine, tough, and sexually confident.
by
Livia Gershon
,
Richard Nowell
via
JSTOR Daily
on
September 25, 2019
A Plea to Resurrect the Christmas Tradition of Telling Ghost Stories
Though the practice is now more associated with Halloween, spooking out your family is well within the Christmas spirit.
by
Colin Dickey
via
Smithsonian
on
December 15, 2017
Ghosts are Scary, Disabled People are Not: The Troubling Rise of the Haunted Asylum
Tourist-driven curiosity about the so-called "haunted asylum" has led many to overlook the real people who once were institutionalized within these hospitals.
by
Sarah Handley-Cousins
via
Nursing Clio
on
October 29, 2015
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