"Lesley Bannatyne's fascinating book . . . will be widely appealing to anyone who ever wondered where witches, trick-or-treating, and jack-o-lanterns really came from. It is by far the best book on the history of Halloween available today."

Alison Guss, senior producer,
"The Haunted History of Halloween," The History Channel

"An excellent resource for research into the history of holidays . . . in the United States . . . Highly Recommended."

The Book Report

Halloween has evolved from the Druids' celebrations of 2,000 years ago to become today the fastest-growing holiday in the country. This, the only book to completely cover All Hallow's Eve, examines those ancient origins as well as its traditions and celebrations, from costuming to bobbing for apples. Jack-o-lanterns, black cats, and witches are explained. Ghosts, ghouls, and goblins lurk behind every page.

The book traces the contributions of America's immigrants to the holiday, documenting the beliefs each ethnic group has added to the mix. Related recipes, poems, songs, crafts, and photos perfectly complement the meticulously documented text. The result is the most educational and entertaining examination of Halloween, its myths, and its truths.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

One of the nation's foremost authorities on Halloween, Lesley Pratt Bannatyne has shared her vast knowledge of the holiday in television specials for Nickelodeon and the History Channel. For more than twenty years, she also has been active in the theater. She currently is co-director of Invisible Cities Group and co-artistic director of the Studebaker Theater. Ms. Bannatyne resides in Medford, Massachusetts, and has been named one of "Boston's 100 Interesting Women" by Boston Woman magazine.

HALLOWEEN
An American Holiday, an American History
By Lesley Pratt Bannatyne
192 pp. 6 x 9
4 illustrations-24 photos-Bibliography-Index
ISBN: 1-56554-346-7
EAN: 978-1-56554-346-1 pb original