Unearthing the Pagan Roots of Halloween__From Sun Worship to Trick or Treat

Overview Audio of the essay by Ruth Edna Kelly The Book of Halloween (Ed. Aurora Boreale).The Book of Hallowe’en by Ruth Edna Kelley was published for first time in Boston, Massachussets, in 1919 and no one could imagine that it was destinated to become an international best seller, published in many countries and translated in many languages until the present days. Ruth Edna Kelley, born in 1893 in Lynn, Massachussets, was only twenty-six years old when wrote The Book of Hallowe’en, an essay stood alone as one of the only serious scholarly works on the subject of Halloween for over seventy years as the preminent source on the meanings and traditions behind one of the most ancient and popular celebrations of all the western world.The book provides a comprehensive history and cultural survey of Hallowe'en, tracing its origins from ancient sun-worship and Celtic festivals like Samhain through its evolution influenced by Roman customs (Pomona) and Christianity (All Saints' and All Souls' Days). The chapters meticulously document Hallowe'en beliefs, customs, omens, and games across various regions, including Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, France, and America, often comparing them to related traditions like the Teutonic Walpurgis Night. Overall, the source serves as an academic and literary exploration of the holiday's multifaceted traditions, concluding with four related poems and an index of contents.Diventa un supporter di questo podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/nicola-bizzi-historiae-storia-misteri--6735918/support.Sostieni questo progetto, iscriviti al mio Supporters Club:https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/nicola-bizzi-historiae-storia-misteri--6735918/support