Show notes
How did Christian demonology become entangled with a holiday full of older spirits, folk creatures and modern monsters?
Episode 13 of The Depths of Halloween. Elias, Mara and the Archivist debate the history, folklore and modern claims behind The Devil, Demons and Halloween Imagery. The production distinguishes documented history from folklore and later reinterpretation where the evidence is uncertain.
Estimated scripted runtime: about 15.8 minutes before performance pacing.
Topics in this episode
- Not every spirit is a demon
- The red devil costume
- Moral panic
- Why demons sell
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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