The Hallowed Eve: Dimensions of Culture in a Calendar Festival in Northern Ireland (Irish Literature, History, and Culture) (Hardcover)

by Jack Santino (Author) "People I interviewed about Halloween invariably told me that it was a great family day, and they frequently likened it to Christmas..." (more)
Key Phrases: Northern Ireland, Guy Fawkes Night, Hallow Eve (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
“An excellent and incisive probe into what a festival means to a separated culture." -- Journal of Popular Culture

“The definitive look as the uniquely Irish origins of Halloween.” -- Green Man Review

Review

"The definitive look as the uniquely Irish origins of Halloween.-- Green Man Review" -- Green Man Review

"An excellent and incisive probe into what a festival means to a separated culture and how it succeeds, though only for a day, in bringing the two warring factions of Northern Ireland together.-- Journal of Popular Culture" -- Journal of Popular Culture

"The variety of Halloween folklore and customs that Santino presents is a window into culture. As such, The Hallowed Eve is often more instructive about fundamental and everyday dimensions of life in Northern Ireland than simplistic, journalistic images of a hopelessly bigoted and war-torn province broadcast to the wider world.-- New Hibernia Review" -- New Hibernia Review

"The history and ways the Irish celebrate are interesting to read about and let us know more about the culture of the Irish, yesterday and today.-- Ohioana Quarterly" -- Ohioana Quarterly

"Depicts a tradition that is not just a celebration but, in a sense, a time of community healing, even if only for one day a year.-- Ozarks Mountaineer" -- Ozarks Mountaineer

"Santino's past work has associated him as firmly with the American celebration of Halloween as witches, black cats, and vampires. The Hallowed Eve will broaden readers' understanding of the holiday as celebrated in Northern Ireland, and explode some piously held beliefs concerning the relationship of the American and Irish holidays as thoroughly as an M-80 in a jack-o-lantern.-- Erika Brady" -- Erika Brady

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 184 pages
• Publisher: University Press of Kentucky (October 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813120810
• ISBN-13: 978-0813120812
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,775,747 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Modern Slant on Age-old Customs, April 3, 2000

By	Francine Nicholson (New England) - See all my reviews

There are many books on Halloween (including another by Jack Santino), but this book is unique in presenting a look at how very old customs have persisted amid the social turmoil and political unrest of Northern Ireland. Since Santino is an American folklorist, one would expect an outsider's view of Halloween. Instead, having lived in Northern Ireland for an extended period and formed working relationships with folklorists there, Santino offers a view of a cultural phenomenon that is both sympathetic and objective. His insights are worth considering. Perhaps the only drawback to this volume is its lack of historical perspective or comparison with other Celtic cultures. Despite this, the present volume is a welcome addition to the library of anyone interested in Halloween itself or Celtic cultural remains.