Halloween Folklore & Festivities

By: Ruth Edna Kelley, Mary E. Blain

Narrated by: Adam Skousen

Halloween Folklore & Festivities is a compilation of two classic Halloween books written in the early 1900s. The Book of Halloween, by Ruth Edna Kelley, explains the origins of Halloween, including the ancient myths, beliefs, and rituals of the Celts and the Teutons. She traces those ancient origins through other cultures that have influenced the customs of our modern Halloween celebrations. Games for Halloween, by Mary E. Blain, is a collection of games, decorations, and charms from the Halloween celebrations of 1912. The two books have been seemlessly edited together as a single work connecting the ancient folklore, to 20th-century festivities. It has everything you need to throw a truly authentic Halloween celebration.

Public Domain (P)2021 Adam Skousen

Lots of Halloween Lore

I learned a lot about the history of Halloween. And I now know every superstitious game to play. The narration was good.

The History Part of the Book is Best

The history portion of this book is very good. Seeing how the modern version of Halloween developed from ancient rites and rituals is detailed and interesting. Once the book moves into folklore/ charms/ omens I lost interest. This part of the book was repetitive. It was the only part I did not enjoy. I recommend about 3/4 of this audiobook!

Fun, educational, and spooky at times

This book was a short overview of some of the main themes and origins of Halloween. It was fun to hear how the traditions have changed throughout the years, and where some of our current customs come from. Things have changed a lot even in the 100 years since the book was written. It was the perfect book to start the season and get me in the mood for planning a Halloween party!