Lux Ferre

Bannatyne, Lesley—Lesley Bannatyne is an American author of five books on Halloween, including Halloween: An American Holiday, An American History (1990), which inaugurated contemporary Halloween popular histories and paved the way for

Backwards—Doing things in reverse order or backwards is a common theme in Halloween FORTUNE-TELLING customs and protective charms. For example, while on the road, wearing one’s coat inside-out was protection against Halloween

Autopsy—Popular Halloween presentation, performed in many variations. The version referred to as “Autopsy” involves setting up a back-lit sheet, behind which a “doctor” performs either an operation or an autopsy, removing various

Ashes are a central element in a few Halloween FORTUNE-TELLING customs, mainly found in Ireland, the Isle of Man, and Lancashire. In one form of the custom, the fortune-seeker was told to

Apple Seeds—If APPLE PARING—or using the skin of an apple — is a popular Halloween FORTUNE-TELLING method, the use of the seeds within the apple is no less popular, and shows an

Apple Parings—In this popular Halloween FORTUNE-TELLING custom, an APPLE is pared, then the peelings are waved over the head THREE times before being thrown over the left shoulder; supposedly the peelings will

Apkarian-Russell, Pam ela—American Halloween collector and vintage COLLECTIBLES expert known as “the Halloween Queen.” Apkarian-Russell has, more than any other individual, been responsible for creating an interest in collecting Halloween memorabilia and

Anthesteria—Sometimes called the Greek ALL SOULS’ DAY, Anthesteria was a three-day festival in honour of Dionysus held annually at Athens from the 11th to the 13th of the month of Anthesterion (February-March).

Anoka, Minnesota—“The Halloween Capital of the World.” Anoka claims to be the first U.S. city to put on Halloween celebrations to divert PRANKING. In 1920, George Green and Anoka civic leaders suggested