EP18 The History of Halloween: From ancient Celtic festival to American holiday, the origin of jack-o'-lanterns, trick-or-treat & the Welsh Nos Calan Gaeaf in a podcast beaming from Wales to the world

Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees

The History of Halloween:

Join Mark Rees (author of Ghosts of Wales/ Paranormal Wales etc.) for a whirlwind tour through the history of All Hallows' Eve.

From ancient Celtic festivals to modern-day America, this concise journey through the dark past of the spookiest day of the year takes a look at such questions as:

• Where did Halloween originate?
• What vital role did Christianity play in things?
• How did America put its own stamp on the holiday?
• Why do we carve pumpkins on October 31st?
• Does trick-or-treating have its roots in praying for the souls of the dead?
• What does the Welsh harvest festival Nos Calan Gaeaf have to do with Halloween?
• And the big question on everyone's lips... how did American housewives host the perfect Halloween party at the turn of the 20th century?

All this and more will be explored in this Halloween special of the Ghosts & Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees podcast!

Halloween in Wales: 5 special episodes

October is the Halloween takeover month on the Ghosts & Folklore of Wales podcast, and this is the first of five stand-alone specials.

While this episode takes a look at the bigger picture of how Halloween is celebrated around the world as well as Wales, subsequent episodes will look more closely at Nos Calan Gaeaf and such traditions as Jack y Lantern, the Welsh jack-o'-lantern, and the dreaded supernatural ghosts and goblins which were abroad ahead of the first day of winter.

For a full list of episodes check out the Halloween Specials podcast page.

What is Nos Calan Gaeaf?

In Celtic times, each day began at sunset.

October 31 - Nos Calan Gaeaf in Welsh, the night before Calan Gaeaf - marked the beginning of winter, and while it was a time for celebration, it was also a time of great foreboding and apprehension.

For more about Nos Calan Gaeaf, be sure to subscribe to the Ghosts & Folklore podcast which will be focusing on the festival all through October, and check out the book The A-Z of Curious Wales for lots more weird and wonderful facts.