Witches and goblins, pumpkins, screeching owls, and the masks of happy trick-or-treaters. Behind all these familiar symbols of Halloween are stories that go far back in history to a time when people really believed in witches and ghosts.

Halloween had its roots in two ancient Celtic observances: the solemn fire rites to appease Samhain, the Lord of the Dead, and the joyful feasting to celebrate the harvest. Over the centuries the two gradually blended into the holiday we know today.

In her warm, direct style, Edna Barth explores the origins of many of the symbols and legends associated with Halloween. A race of primitive dwarf people may have been the basis for tales about goblins. Real witches of the Middle Ages gathered around steaming cauldrons to chant and dance. Cats were once thought to be witches in animal disguise. The mysterious light of marsh gas was the first Jack-O-Lantern. And the traditional color of Halloween—black and orange—reflect the twin roots of the ancient holiday: black stood for death, orange for the harvest.

Abundantly illustrated in two colors by Ursula Arndt, this entertaining and informative book also includes an annotated list of Halloween stories and an index. 

From the dust jacket