This big, informed, witty, and entertaining book, actually several books in one, covers all the aspects of the secular holiday unlike any other. Only the exhaustive is interesting. - Thomas Mann HALLOWEEN HISTORY AND TRADITION, THE JACK-O- LANTERN, TRICK OR TREAT, HOLIDAY FOLKLORE, MASKS AND VARIOUS COSTUMES, HALLOWEEN BUSINESS, HALLOWEEN AROUND THE WORLD, HALLOWEEN PARADES AND PARTIES, HALLOWEEN RECIPES AND PARTY IDEAS, HALLOWEEN STORIES AND OTHER LITERATURE, HUNDREDS OF BIG AND SMALL SCREEN DELIGHTS FOR YOUR WATCHING AT HALLOWEEN WITH A FULL, CASUAL, GIANT ANNOTATED FILMOGRAPHY, & COMMENTS ON HORROR IN ARTS OF YESTERDAY AND TODAY.

An artful blend of informative narrative, old-fashioned poems, prose, and chants, this volume highlights eye-catching images of vintage Halloween ephemera and fanciful illustrations. More than 100 postcards from 1900 to 1918 are included among the 163 color illustrations.

An indispensable resource for exploring food and faith, this two-volume set offers information on food-related religious beliefs, customs, and practices from around the world. Why do Catholics eat fish on Fridays? Why are there retirement homes for aged cows in India? What culture holds ceremonies to welcome the first salmon? More than five billion people worldwide claim a religious identity that shapes the way they think about themselves, how they act, and what they eat. Food, Feasts, and Faith: An Encyclopedia of Food Culture in World Religions explores how the food we eat every day often serves purposes other than to keep us healthy and stay alive: we eat to express our faith and to adhere to ethnic or cultural traditions that are part of who we are. This book provides readers with an understanding of the rich world of food and faith. It contains more than 200 alphabetically arranged entries that describe the beliefs and customs of well-established major world religions and sects as well as those of smaller faith communities and new religious movements. The entries cover topics such as religious food rules, religious festivals and symbolic foods, and vegetarianism and veganism, as well as general themes such as rites of passage, social justice, hospitality, and compassion. Each entry on religion explains what the religious dietary laws and guidelines are and how these were interpreted and put into practice historically and in modern settings. The coverage also includes important festivals and feast days as well as significant religious figures and organizations. Additionally, some 160 sidebars provide examples and more detailed information as well as fun facts.

From the earliest times, humans have enjoyed dining and entertainment with family and friends, from sharing a simple meal to an extravagant feast for a special celebration. In this two-volume set, entries tell the history of wedding and religious customs, holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, and modern day get togethers such as block parties and Superbowl parties. Providing a worldwide perspective on celebration, entries on topics such as Dim Sum, La Quinceanera Parties, Deepavali, and Juneteenth cover many cultures. In addition, entries on Ancient Rome, Medieval entertaining, and others give an inside view as to what entertaining was like during those times, should readers want to recreate these themes for school projects or club banquets. Whether a student of history or world language class, or an adult planning a theme party, there is something in Entertaining from Ancient Rome to the Super Bowl for everyone.

The Town of Orangeville has a colourful, exciting past – a history being documented in book form for the first time. From the early days of the Irish pioneers escaping the political problems of Ireland to the present influx of new residents fleeing the pressures of cities, Orangeville has been a town that has adapted well to change, always ready for new ideas. The strength of the community has been the people who have chosen to live there and who have left us interesting traces of their lives and the times. Much of the material used to research this book comes from newspapers, diaries, letters and other first-person documents, and archival photographs. Wherever possible, original quotes and stories in the language of the residents of the town appear throughout this history. The story of Orangeville and its surrounding area starts with the story of the Credit River, which rises within the town limits and maintains its presence as the town enters the 21st century. Brimming with stories never before heard, the pages are filled with humour, sadness and the range of emotions characteristic of a small Ontario town. For some the book will awaken memories; for others, it will introduce them to the community where they have chosen to live.

However, the essays in this volume also suggest that there is something ironic and unsettling about the immense popularity of a holiday whose main images are of death, evil, and the grotesque. Halloween and Other Festivals of Death and Life is a unique contribution that questions our concepts of religiosity and spirituality while contributing to our understanding of Halloween as a rich and diverse reflection of our society's past, present, and future identity.

Discover how to unleash your passionate, playful goddess within by using the positive, natural forces all around us—magick. Blending magickal techniques and the principles of female empowerment, this fun, easy-to-follow guidebook demonstrates how to attract true love and rekindle romance. With warmth and humor, Ellen Dugan introduces love magick and its rules. You'll find a wide array of simple rituals, charms, and spells to catch someone's eye, call on Aphrodite for help, and more. Single and married women will also find practical advice on flirting and seduction, enhancing one's appearance, and making the most of your magnetic feminine power. With confidence and a positive attitude, you''ll learn how to draw love energy into your life to keep the flames of passion burning brightly.

Alvin Boyd Kuhn, the author of the popular New Lectures on the Ancient Wisdom series, offers up an essay on the origins of Halloween and its traditions, including the candle in the pumpkin, broomstick riding witches, apple in a tub of water and the wearing of masks. Kuhn searches to find a meaning behind Halloween that goes beyond the sheer fun and deviltry of it, as it has been practised in the past and present. A fascinating read!