Show notes
How much do we actually know about Samhain, and how much of the familiar story was built later?
Episode 2 of The Depths of Halloween. Elias, Mara and the Archivist debate the history, folklore and modern claims behind Samhain: Ancient Celtic New Year or Modern Myth?. The production distinguishes documented history from folklore and later reinterpretation where the evidence is uncertain.
Estimated scripted runtime: about 16.5 minutes before performance pacing.
Topics in this episode
- What the name tells us
- The thin veil
- Fire and gathering
- Modern Samhain
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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