Show notes
The pointed hat is familiar; the history behind it is anything but simple.
Episode 12 of The Depths of Halloween. Elias, Mara and the Archivist debate the history, folklore and modern claims behind Witches: History, Panic and Halloween. The production distinguishes documented history from folklore and later reinterpretation where the evidence is uncertain.
Estimated scripted runtime: about 15.5 minutes before performance pacing.
Topics in this episode
- Witchcraft versus costume
- The familiar and broom
- Persecution and play
- Why the witch endures
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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