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  • Halloween: The History of America's Darkest Holiday

Halloween: The History of America's Darkest Holiday

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by David J. Skal

Dover Publications, Inc. (2016)

Paperback

ISBN 13: ​9780486805214

ISBN 10: 0486805212

genre: HISTORY > SOCIAL SCIENCE > UNITED STATES > HOLIDAYS

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Acclaimed cultural critic David J. Skal explores one of America's most perplexingly popular holidays in this original mix of personal anecdotes and social analysis. Skal traces Halloween's evolution from its dark Celtic history and quaint, small-scale celebrations to its emergence as mammoth seasonal marketing event.

Skal takes readers on a cross-country survey that covers remarkably divergent perspectives, from the merchants who welcome a money-making opportunity that's second only to Christmas to fundamentalists who decry Halloween a form of blasphemy and practicing witches who embrace it as a holy day. He also profiles individuals who revel in this once-a-year occasion to participate in elaborate fantasies. Their narratives, combined with the author's cultural analysis, offer a revealing look at an intriguing aspect of our national psyche.

Reviews - 

"
Wonderfully well-written, outrageous, and provocative." — Booklist

"Entertaining … and scholarly … Like a bag of Halloween candy, the book is a lot of fun." — Boston Globe

"Fans of cultural history will devour each chapter … like a toothsome treat." — Christian Science Monitor

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