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Halloween ‑ Stories

Halloween evolved from the ancient Celtic holiday of Samhain. Over the centuries, Halloween transitioned from a pagan ritual to a day of parties, costumes, jack-o-lanterns and trick-or-treating for kids and adults.

7 Ways the Living Tried to Keep the Dead in Their Graves

Historical graves reveal corpses with iron rods through their chests, sickles across their necks and padlocks on their feet.

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Halloween Costumes through the decades

Why Do Witches Wear Pointy Hats? The History Behind the Costume

Explore the origins behind witch costume features—the hat, the black dress, prominent nose and green skin.

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The Real History behind Horror Movies: The Exorcist

Exorcisms: The Centuries‑Long History of Expelling Evil

From biblical depictions of Christ casting out demons, to charismatic Christians in the ’60s, to the story behind the 1973 movie, people have been attempting to expel evil for centuries.

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Portrait of Kate and Maggie Fox, Spirit Mediums from Rochester, New York. Along the bottom edge of the daguerreotype "Kate and Maggie Fox, Rochester Mediums, T.M. Easterly Daguerrean" is inscribed.

How a Hoax by Two Sisters Helped Spark the Spiritualism Craze

When two young sisters claimed to communicate with ghosts in the mid‑1800s, they soon became celebrity mediums and unwittingly spurred a trend.

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A drugstore clerk removes Tylenol capsules from the shelves of a pharmacy on September 30, 1982 in New York City after reports of tampering. Seven people died in Chicago after taking Tylenol.

How the 1982 Tylenol Poisonings Nearly Canceled Halloween

The shocking deaths of seven people in the Chicago area from tampered bottles led to a massive recall—and generated fears around candy poisonings.

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'Arsenic and Old Lace': The Real Murders Behind the Halloween Classic Film

‘Arsenic and Old Lace’: The Real Murders Behind the Halloween Classic Film

The writer behind the play, which was made into a Cary Grant film, had studied the records of convicted murderer Amy Archer‑Gilligan.

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Carved Pumpkins at a Festival

Halloween Timeline: How the Holiday Has Changed Over the Centuries

From pagan rituals to costumes and candy corn, discover how Halloween—and its associated traditions—has evolved through the ages.

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Why Black Cats Are Associated with Bad Luck

Why Black Cats Are Associated With Halloween and Bad Luck

As early as the 13th century, the Catholic Church linked cats to Satan.

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Day of the Dead: How Ancient Traditions Grew Into a Global Holiday

The Ancient Origins of Day of the Dead

What began as ceremonies practiced by the ancient Aztecs evolved into a holiday recognized far beyond the borders of Mexico.

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How the Early Catholic Church Christianized Halloween

How the Early Catholic Church Christianized Halloween

After the Romans conquered ancient Celtic realms, pagan traditions were adopted into a holiday honoring Catholic saints.

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Why Do Witches Ride Brooms? The History Behind the Legend

Why Do Witches Ride Brooms? The History Behind the Legend

From pagan fertility rituals to hallucinogenic herbs, the story of witches and brooms is a wild ride.

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6 Things You May Not Know About Pumpkins

6 Things You May Not Know About Pumpkins

Which famous French explorer is credited with naming them?

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