Halloween : Pagan Festival to Trick or Treat

by Oxbrow, Mark

• ISBN13: 9781903254127
• ISBN10: 1903254124
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-05-01
• Publisher: Fab Pr

Summary

From the 'Celtic' Iron Age feis of Samain to today's Trick or Treat, the rites and revels of Halloween have a strange and secret history. Was an ancient goddess of winter the root of our wicked witches, when did Halloween truly become the 'festival of the dead', and how did Scots customs and superstitions evolve into the modern multi-billion dollar festival of Halloween? Encounter a phantasmagoria of giantesses, witches, fairies, ghosts and zombies as we journey from the standing stones of Britain to the Mexican Day of the Dead. This book offers a definitive history of Halloween, its rituals and culture. Book jacket.

Table of Contents

Invitation	p. 7
Summers End: The Iron Age Celtic feis of Samain was a time of infamous revelry, lavish feasting and legendary drinking	p. 11
Starshine and Moonlight: From the Great Pyramid to Stonehenge and Calanais, the time of Hallowe'en has been marked for millennia	p. 31
The Queen of Winter: In the Scottish Highlands the icy winter was ruled by the ancient blue-skinned crone goddess, the Cailleach Bheur	p. 53
Faery Folks: The veil is thin and Hallowe'en has long been a hazardous night full of supernatural beings and uncanny faeries	p. 73
The Danse Macabre: Christianity brought 'the dead' to Hallowe'en with the feasts of All Saints and All Souls	p. 91
Fear and Lothians: The Scottish Witch trials marked Hallowe'en out as a sinister night when Witches would gather for diabolical Sabbats	p. 107
Season of the Witch: The crooked, aged Witch of our folk stories and fairytales descended from beliefs in ancient winter hag goddesses	p. 121
The Hallowmas Fire: The magical custom of kindling sacred bonfires on Hallowe'en night was kept alive in the Highlands of Scotland	p. 145
Mischief Night: The world was turned upside-down for one night of mischief and misrule, leading to the custom of trick or treat	p. 159
Wandering Spirits: The Scottish Hallowe'en divination rites travelled with migrants to America, forming the origins of today's festival	p. 173
The Spook House: The controversial history of Hallowe'en in the 20th and 21st century, and its depiction in books, movies and on TV	p. 191
Los Dias de Muertos: Seasonal festivities from Mexico and Haiti to Brittany and Japan	p. 221
Treat or Trick? Hallowe'en has grown into a multi-billion dollar festival celebrated in spectacular style by millions of enthusiasts	p. 231
Post Mortem	p. 249
Bibliography	p. 262
Index	p. 264
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.