The Book of Halloween

This early 20th-century book about Halloween was intended to give adults insight into one of America's favorite holidays. Tracing the roots of Halloween back to its original as a religious tradition of the peoples of the United Kingdom, Germany, and elsewhere, author Ruth Edna Kelley attempts to show the evolution of Halloween and expose how the current methods of celebration are connected to the past. In addition to history, Kelley, games, and divination methods, many of which have transitioned from Halloween fun to cultural touchstones. This book is intended to give the reader an account of the origin and history of Hallowe'en, how it absorbed some customs belonging to other days in the year,—such as May Day, Midsummer, and Christmas.