Show notes
Vampires, werewolves, mummies and zombies come from different places—so why do they all meet on October 31?
Episode 15 of The Depths of Halloween. Elias, Mara and the Archivist debate the history, folklore and modern claims behind Monsters: How Halloween Built a Bestiary. The production distinguishes documented history from folklore and later reinterpretation where the evidence is uncertain.
Estimated scripted runtime: about 15.4 minutes before performance pacing.
Topics in this episode
- No ancient monster lineup
- Universal costume language
- Movie monsters
- The expandable holiday
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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