Witches, Pumpkins, and Grinning Ghosts: The Story of the Halloween Symbols [Paperback]

Edna Barth (Author), Ursula Arndt (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Here are the stories behind all the familiar and not-so-familiar symbols of Halloween. Each of our holidays has its own familiar traditions: Trick-or-treating on Halloween, eating turkey on Thanksgiving, waiting for Santa Claus on Christmas, exchanging cards on Valentine’s Day. But where do these customs come from, when did they begin, and why do we continue to observe them? In the engaging blend of careful research and lively prose that has earned her books a lasting place on the holiday bookshelf, Edna Barth explores the multicultural origins and evolution of the familiar and not-so-familiar symbols and legends associated with our favorite holidays. Full of fascinating historical details and little-known stories, these books are both informative and engaging. Festively illustrated by Ursula Arndt, they are now available again in hardcover as well as paperback editions, featuring new, eye-catching jacket designs, and fun holiday activities inside the paperback covers. Each book includes an annotated list of holiday stories and poems and an index.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Witches, Pumpkins, and Grinning Ghosts: The Story of the Halloween Symbols remains one of the clearest, most accessible explanations of the history of Halloween around. Edna Barth--author of many nonfiction holiday books for children--sets her story 2,000 years in the past, when October 31 marked a joyous harvest festival for the Celts and, more frighteningly, when potentially evil spirits were unleashed from the Celtic underworld. Her fascinating account of the events that led up to modern-day Halloween explore the cringe-worthy history of witches; where the word jack-o'-lantern comes from (the story involves someone named Stingy Jack, diabolical deals, turnips, and glowing coals); the lore of bats, toads, and owls; why orange and black are the traditional Halloween colors; and how and where people celebrate Halloween today.

Barth's approach is straightforward and simple, and she doesn't gloss over (or dramatize) the darker aspects of Halloween's antecedents, such as the Celts' animal sacrifices and the Salem witch hunts. This rich study of a once-dreaded and now-lighthearted holiday--laden with lively, whimsical illustrations by Ursula Arndt--is sure to prompt children to ask questions about the history of holiday traditions in general. Perhaps Witches, Pumpkins, and Grinning Ghosts will make them take a second look at grinning jack-o'-lanterns, trick-or-treating witches, and other Halloween symbols and customs. A great book for kids who want to dig a little deeper into our mysterious, spooky past! (Ages 9 to 12) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Each fall, we are delighted by glowing orange jack-o-lanterns, dancing skeletons, arching black cats and wicked-faced witches. Children and children at heart adorn masks and creepy costumes while trick-or-treating. For most of us, these traditions have been around as long as we can remember. But where did Halloween come from and how have we come to celebrate it in this way? This fascinating book ventures back two thousand years and more in order to discover Halloween's origins across cultures and generations. Are goblins real, for instance? It is said that during the Stone Age, a small, dark skinned people lived in forests in low, turf-roofed huts. Their swiftness and seeming ability to vanish into thin air earned them the reputation of being evil fairies. And what about witches? Witches can be traced back to not only the days of sorcery and magic potions, but also to cave paintings made by magicians of Europe twenty thousand years ago! Spanning many generations and beliefs, the witch and her "familiars," such as black cats, owls, toads and spiders, account for endless stories of mystery and mishap. For many ghosts have also earned their place in Halloween folklore. Years ago, however, the Scotch, Irish and English believed that the disembodied souls of the dead returned home on Halloween night looking for warmth and cheer. To ensure against angry ghosts stealing the harvest, killing livestock or kidnapping children, folks provided a bountiful spread and a warm fire every year on this night. These tales and many others bring us to a well-rounded understanding of the beliefs, rituals and cultures which have shaped one of America's most playful holidays. Halloween activities included.1972. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Leslie Julian (Children's Literature )

Witches, Pumpkins, and Grinning Ghosts: The Story of the Halloween Symbols remains one of the clearest, most accessible explanations of the history of Halloween around. Edna Barth--author of many nonfiction holiday books for children--sets her story 2,000 years in the past, when October 31 marked a joyous harvest festival for the Celts and, more frighteningly, when potentially evil spirits were unleashed from the Celtic underworld. Her fascinating account of the events that led up to modern-day Halloween explore the cringe-worthy history of witches; where the word jack-o'-lantern comes from (the story involves someone named Stingy Jack, diabolical deals, turnips, and glowing coals); the lore of bats, toads, and owls; why orange and black are the traditional Halloween colors; and how and where people celebrate Halloween today.

Barth's approach is straightforward and simple, and she doesn't gloss over (or dramatize) the darker aspects of Halloween's antecedents, such as the Celts' animal sacrifices and the Salem witch hunts. This rich study of a once-dreaded and now-lighthearted holiday--laden with lively, whimsical illustrations by Ursula Arndt--is sure to prompt children to ask questions about the history of holiday traditions in general. Perhaps Witches, Pumpkins, and Grinning Ghosts will make them take a second look at grinning jack-o'-lanterns, trick-or-treating witches, and other Halloween symbols and customs. A great book for kids who want to dig a little deeper into our mysterious, spooky past! (Ages 9 to 12)

(Amazon.com Review )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (August 21, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618067825
• ISBN-13: 978-0618067824
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 6.9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #882,001 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Witches get respect, March 10, 2002

By 

Alyssa A. Lappen (Earth) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Witches, Pumpkins, and Grinning Ghosts: The Story of the Halloween Symbols (Paperback)

This 19-chapter, 95-page delight, written in 1972, covers a multitude of areas, from the history of Halloween, to the ways it is celebrated today. The book is intended for an audience of third and fourth graders. And it has something for everyone.

Most children wonder about the origins of Halloween. This book offers them just enough of the history to fascinate them and whet their appetites for more, but not so much that they will never want to read history again.

Did you know, for example, that the Celtic people, who lived more than 2,000 years ago in France and the British Isles, feared October 31, as the eve of their festival of Samhain, Lord of the Dead? Celtic priests, called Druids, held fire rites at these times, at which they sometimes burned prisoners alive, to punish them and to predict the future. But Samhain was also a joyful festival, marking the death of the old year and the start of a new one. There are also brief sections on the history of fairies, Goblins and Little People. The book relates how the stories of these creatures came into being, and leaves open the possibility that they were real.

Barth also offers tasteful sections on the history of witches (whose sabbaths were joyful) and the Horned God, from Biblical times through the Middle Ages. She touches on the Christian war against the Devil and the witch-hunts of Germany, England and America. Finally, she relates that how the wicas of lore and yore became the respectable costumed revelers of modern-day Halloween.

Barth clearly had no intention of writing an exhaustive history. On the contrary, she intended to explain briefly, providing a nice lead-in to chapters on ghosts, toads, broomsticks and owls. To that end--fun--she also explains the Halloween colors of orange and black and current-day masquerades. She offers several not-too-scary Halloween stories and a set of wonderful Halloween recipes.

This book is great for kids who love Halloween--and want to know how it started. Alyssa A. Lappen

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Background Information, October 12, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Witches, Pumpkins, and Grinning Ghosts: The Story of the Halloween Symbols (Paperback)

As a teacher, I so appreciate how simply this book gives broad background on all the traditions and history that feed into one of America's most celebrated holiday. Great background for preparing multicultural lessons, history lessons or art. Could be read by 5th grader as well.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Halloween Tradition, September 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Witches, Pumpkins, and Grinning Ghosts: The Story of the Halloween Symbols (Paperback)

I pulled it out of the same section in the elementary school library where they keep books on the Loch Ness Monster and UFO's. The book gave some really cool insights into the history and symbolism of Hallowe'en. If you really, and I mean REALLY love Halloween, this book will make you proud sitting on whatever creepy old bookshelf you have at home (put it next to the skull and severed hand!). The watercolor(?)illustrations truly capture that autumn spirit also. They say that the best children's books are those aimed at older readers, and this goes for this too!