The Book of Hallowe'en

"The Book of Hallowe'en" by Ruth Edna Kelley is a journey through time, revealing the many cultural layers that have shaped the modern Halloween celebration. The book starts by looking at very old sun-worship rituals and how they affected early festivals, including Halloween. It shows how ancient cultures saw the sun as a god and how ideas about light, darkness, and farming seasons became important parts of their celebrations. The book then focuses on Celtic beliefs, explaining how the Samhain festival, which marked the end of summer, was full of important customs like fire rituals and honoring gods, which later became part of Halloween traditions. The early parts of the book set the stage for a bigger exploration of Halloween celebrations and beliefs that the book will continue to examine.