Category: Halloween

Bonfires— Once one of the most popular Halloween celebrations throughout the British Isles, bonfires are now confined largely to civil CELEBRATIONS or GUY FAWKES NIGHT.…

Bonfire Night (also “Bon-a-fire Night” or “Bonnie-Fire Night”)—In England, another name for GUY FAWKES DAY. In parts of Ireland, Bonfire Night also once referred to…

Bon Festival (also Bon Matsuri, Obon, Urabon)— Bon Festival is one of the most important events for Japanese people (along with NEW YEAR’S Day); although…

Bogie Books—Beginning in 1909, Dennison (a company which specialized in the manufacture of paper goods, and which was among the earliest companies to feature a…

Bobbing for Apples (also “ducking for apples,” “dookin’ for apples,” “Bob-apple”)— The most popular of all Halloween GAMES. Although it’s been claimed that bobbing for…

Blackberries—A particular Irish and Cornwall fairy tradition has it that blackberries and sloes can’t be gathered and eaten on NOVEMBER EVE or after for as…

Black Vespers—Refers to the custom (especially practiced in France) of draping churches in black on ALL SOULS’ DAY for the evening mass; worshippers also usually…

Belsnickling—A CHRISTMAS mumming custom found in areas of German settlement throughout North America, its name derives from a German MUMMING tradition known as Peltznickel. Similar…

Bells—It was once common practice to ring church bells for all Christian souls on Halloween. King Henry VIII (who ruled from 1509 to 1547) once…

Beggar’s Night—In some areas of the United States, Beggar’s Night is October 30, the night before Halloween (and was sometimes used interchangeably with MISCHIEF NIGHT),…