Related Books
There are many books which provide invaluable information on Halloween, without being solely devoted to Halloween. Especially important are the nineteenth-century books on calendar celebrations and folklore, many of which are now available as free e-books. Below is a selection of a few of of the most useful of these related books, with links (where possible) to free online versions.
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Observations on the Popular Antiquities of Great Britain, by Sir John Brand - this is the 1849 edition linked here, and it includes extensive sections on both Halloween and the Fifth of November. One of the primary 19th-century sources of information on British celebrations. |
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Superstitions of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland by John Gregorson Campbell, 1900. Fascinating source of Scottish Halloween beliefs. |
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The Book of Days by R. Chambers, 1869 edition. Probably the most popular almanac of the nineteenth century, was frequently updated and contains a fine section on early Halloween celebrations. |
| The Folklore of American Holidays by Hennig Cohen and Tristram Potter Coffin, 1987. A good collection of holiday facts culled from a variety of source materials. | |
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The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic by William Warde Fowler, 1899. Solid overview of the Roman calendar celebrations, including Lemuria and Feralia. |
| Faith and Treason: The Story of the Gunpowder Plot by Antonia Fraser, 1997. Fine recounting of the events that led to the Fifth of November celebrations in Great Britain. | |
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The Golden Bough: Balder the Beautiful Volume I by Sir James Frazer. This volume of Frazer's classic work includes a superb collection of traditional Halloween rituals and customs. |
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Visions and Beliefs in the West of Ireland by Lady Augusta Gregory. A wonderful collection of Irish folklore beliefs, including those centered on Halloween, Samhain, and the mischievous sidhe. |
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Old Scottish Customs Local and General by E. Guthrie, 1885. Another wonderful, rich source book for Scottish Halloween customs. |
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Lancashire Folk-lore by John Harland. One of the best of the late nineteenth-century books on British folklore. Lots of great Halloween references. |
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Beside the Fire: A Collection of Irish Gaelic Folk Stories by Douglas Hyde, 1890. This delightful collection includes the classic Halloween tale "Guleesh Na Guss Dhu". |
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The Sketch-book of Geoffrey Crayon by Washington Irving. Seminal collection that includes both "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle". |
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Folk-lore or Superstitious Beliefs in the West of Scotland Within This Century by James Napier, 1879. More great Scottish Halloween lore. |
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The Picayune's Guide to New Orleans 6th edition, 1904. Read about the celebration of All Saints Day in old New Orleans. |
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Celtic Folk-lore Welsh and Manx by Sir John Rhys, 1901. A key source of Halloween customs from Wales and the Isle of Man. |
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Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border Volume 2 by Sir Walter Scott. Includes not only the classic Scottish Halloween ballad "Tamlane", but Scott's lengthy introduction to same, which includes references to other Halloween tales. |
| Sir Benjamin Stone's Pictures: Festivals, Ceremonies, and Customs, 1906. Although Sir Benjamin didn't record any Halloween rituals, his volume is nonetheless a treasure trove of related images of bonfire-building, corn dollies, and Celtic pageants. |
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Collectanea de Rebus Hibernicus Volume III by Charles Vallancey, 1786. This is it - the book that started 200 years of Halloween misinformation, with Vallancey's blatant dismissal of facts and bizarre speculation. It does also include some good source information on existing Halloween rituals at the time, but beware the absurdity around the facts. |
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Curiosities of Popular Customs... by William Walsh, 1897. Another of the standard nineteenth-cetury books on folklore. |
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Witch Hunts: A Graphic History of the Burning Times, by Rocky Wood and Lisa Morton, illustrated by Greg Chapman. If you're curious about the background of one of Halloween's most prominent icons - witches - this acclaimed graphic novel will give you an unflinching look at the witch craze that claimed tens of thousands of lives throughout Europe and America. |
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British Calendar Customs: England Volume III: Fixed Festivals, June-December Inclusive, edited by A. R. Wright, 1940. One of the very best collections of British Halloween customs ever published. Includes complete poems, extensive notes on souling, and also covers Guy Fawkes celebrations at length. Invaluable. |
