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On this episode of Our American Stories, every October, porches glow with carved pumpkins and streets fill with costumed children, but the roots of Halloween reach much deeper than candy and costumes. The holiday began as All Hallows’ Eve, a night of remembrance that blended Christian and Celtic traditions. When Irish and Scottish immigrants arrived in the United States, they carried those customs with them, reshaping the celebration into something distinctly American. Historians Lesley Bannatyne and Lisa Morton explain how an ancient ritual became a modern holiday—and why Halloween in America continues to reflect both superstition and joy. Lesley Bannatyne is the author of Halloween: An American Holiday, an American History, and Lisa Morton is the author of Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, every October, porches glow with carved pumpkins and streets fill with costumed children, but the roots of Halloween reach much deeper than candy and costumes. The holiday began as All Hallows&rsquo; Eve, a night of remembrance that blended Christian and Celtic traditions. When Irish and Scottish immigrants arrived in the United States, they carried those customs with them, reshaping the celebration into something distinctly American. Historians Lesley Bannatyne and Lisa Morton explain how an ancient ritual became a modern holiday&mdash;and why Halloween in America continues to reflect both superstition and joy. Lesley Bannatyne is the author of Halloween:&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FHalloween-American-Holiday-Bannatyne-1998-08-31%2Fdp%2FB01FIXPKLM&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7Cda1bc2a2a6bb4f05c7f808de10067b49%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638965817177796092%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=pyxGruNp6CBCKmWb5Sy%2BquAyFjgsYlzF%2B3T2D%2F4SD0o%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">An American Holiday, an American History</a>, and Lisa Morton is the author of&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FTrick-Treat-Halloween-Lisa-Morton%2Fdp%2F1780231873&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7Cda1bc2a2a6bb4f05c7f808de10067b49%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638965817177818468%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=rEANCgfAWHRkZndR0nLSgyQQbvm9JANAXs29pXEBrHw%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween</a>.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit, and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories

Halloween: The Strange and Storied History of an American Holiday

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7e003efc-970e-40c6-b868-b37c017b290e/transcript

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