Witches, Pumpkins, and Grinning Ghosts by Edna Barth

Witches, Pumpkins, and Grinning Ghosts

The Story of the Halloween Symbols

Edna Barth

HarperCollins · Print & ebook · August 21, 2000

Here are the stories behind all the familiar and not-so-familiar symbols of Halloween.

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Who it’s for
Trace the multicultural origins and changing meanings behind familiar and less familiar Halloween symbols.
Themes
Halloween symbols, Halloween traditions, Origins of holiday customs
Genres
Halloween, Myths & Folklore, Kids: Body, Mind & Spirit

About this book

Here are the stories behind all the familiar and not-so-familiar symbols of Halloween. Each of our holidays has its own familiar traditions: Trick-or-treating on Halloween, eating turkey on Thanksgiving, waiting for Santa Claus on Christmas, exchanging cards on Valentine’s Day. But where do these customs come from, when did they begin, and why do we continue to observe them?

Continue reading

In the engaging blend of careful research and lively prose that has earned her books a lasting place on the holiday bookshelf, Edna Barth explores the multicultural origins and evolution of the familiar and not-so-familiar symbols and legends associated with our favorite holidays. Full of fascinating historical details and little-known stories, these books are both informative and engaging. Festively illustrated by Ursula Arndt, they are now available again in hardcover as well as paperback editions, featuring new, eye-catching jacket designs, and fun holiday activities inside the paperback covers. Each book includes an annotated list of holiday stories and poems and an index.

Halloween, Unpacked

Trace the multicultural origins and changing meanings behind familiar and less familiar Halloween symbols.

Come here for

  • The stories behind Halloween customs and symbols
  • Historical details delivered in lively prose

Expect

  • A look at how traditions began and evolved
  • Familiar legends seen through their cultural origins

Where it sits

Halloween98%
Myths & Folklore89%
Kids: Body, Mind & Spirit48%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • U.S. History
  • Holiday & Celebration Stories
  • Halloween Stories
  • Thanksgiving Stories
Show all 5 publisher categories
  • Early Readers
Authors
Edna Barth
Publisher
HarperCollins
Published
August 21, 2000
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Halloween symbols · Halloween traditions · Origins of holiday customs
Reading lane
U.S. History