Show notes
Why does Halloween ask us to become someone—or something—else for a night?
Episode 7 of The Depths of Halloween. Elias, Mara and the Archivist debate the history, folklore and modern claims behind Masks, Guising and Disguise. The production distinguishes documented history from folklore and later reinterpretation where the evidence is uncertain.
Estimated scripted runtime: about 15.9 minutes before performance pacing.
Topics in this episode
- Disguise as evidence
- Hiding from spirits
- Social inversion
- Commercial costume culture
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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