The Jack-o’-lantern (also jacky lantern) is a type of Ignis Fatuus, or “foolish fire.” In British folklore, the jack-o’- lantern is a spectral light that drifts about at night, scaring travellers and
Carnivals—This popular form of Halloween entertainment may have originally developed as an institutionalized alternative to the destructive PRANKING of the 1920s and 1930s. Halloween carnivals are usually held on school grounds (where they help raise money for the school), and
Barley—In Shetland, a small stack of “bere,” or barley, was set apart in an annual offering to “Broonie” (the origin or real meaning of this name is unknown). There was a divination
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
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
Alphabet Game— A method of FORTUNETELLING at Halloween parties involving letters cut from a newspaper and then floated in a container of WATER; the letters might form the name of a future
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