Show notes
The Christian calendar is not a footnote to Halloween—it is built into the holiday's very name.
Episode 4 of The Depths of Halloween. Elias, Mara and the Archivist debate the history, folklore and modern claims behind All Hallows' Eve: Church, Saints and the Dead. The production distinguishes documented history from folklore and later reinterpretation where the evidence is uncertain.
Estimated scripted runtime: about 16 minutes before performance pacing.
Topics in this episode
- The name itself
- Praying for the dead
- Church versus folk culture
- Why the debate persists
Sources and further reading
- Library of Congress: The Origins of Halloween Traditions
- Library of Congress: Halloween: Topics in Chronicling America
- Smithsonian Magazine: The Celtic Origins of Trick-or-Treating
- Smithsonian Magazine: When Halloween Was All Tricks and No Treats
- HISTORY: How Jack O’Lanterns Originated in Irish Myth
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