Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween Kindle Edition

Lisa Morton brings a wonderful blend of sober scholarship and elfin humor to her books, which transform what (in other hands) might have been dry historical/cultural works into genuine page-turners. This Halloween history is likely to be my go-to book every autumn.

Halloween has been my favorite holiday for the past 3+ decades. As a child it meant making my own costumes and decorations, hosting the big Halloween party for all my friends, and hearing stories from my dad about scrounging through trunks of old clothes in the attic and tumbling through his little Midwestern hometown with all his brothers. "Adult" Halloween and I never meshed. My version of the holiday now involves upping the ante when it comes to decorating the house, handing out treats, and roaming the neighborhood in a more elaborate homemade costume.

My "adult" version of Halloween has also come to involve reading everything I can find about the holiday. I want to know about its origins, earlier practices, how and why it has changed since I was a kid, etc. It's not reading, but I also go to historical recreation Halloween dinners and celebrations (yes, these exist).

I'm a cultural historian (doctorate in art history and archaeology, but it's really cultural and visual history), so that's the kind of viewpoint I can offer here:

From where I stand, this is absolutely the best book on Halloween and its history as a cultural phenomenon. I've read Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night by Nicolas Rogers and though that book is supposedly more scholarly, I honestly don't think it was as interesting or informative. Whatever your level of interest, I'd recommend Lisa Morton's book over that one. In fact, if you just want to learn enough about Halloween's past to recreate a 19th century party, I think this book would be a great resource for you.

I guess I have two caveats: 1) this isn't a book of Halloween stories, it really is a cultural history; 2) this is not meant as a practical guide to those who want to perform pagan rituals, etc. It offers some interesting history but if you want to celebrate the holiday a la wicca, I don't think this book is going to do the trick.

Oh, and I do recall there being interesting material about recent controversies over Halloween related to safety and to modern religion. If you are curious about those things I think you can read about them here. But this is not a book by someone with an "agenda" about Halloween, and I am pretty sure Lisa Morton genuinely likes Halloween, so if you're here to find a book warning against the celebration of this holiday...well, I'm afraid this is the wrong place.

Long story short: loved this book as an accessible cultural history. Not meant to teach you how to practice Halloween as a Wiccan. Not meant to teach you to avoid Halloween, either. Just a good and readable cultural history.

I loved the deep dive into the history of Halloween! Would be a great read for young adults who are interested in history! I like to read this every year around Halloween to remind myself of the history and tradition!

This is the very best most imformative Halloween history book that I have ever read. If you want to know the true roots of this spactacular holiday, not the heresay, or muddled assumptions, but the truth with facts, then look no further than this book. I have a massive Halloween book collection and I have never read a book yet with so much information about the true roots of Halloween. The book was a great read and I could not put it down. I am so very glad that I bought this book, and if you are a lover of Halloween, or history, then pick up this book. You will be very glad that you did.

Lisa Morton's Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween is not the ultimate Halloween reference work (though one doubts that any single book could qualify in that capacity), but that said, it is arguably the best single book on the history of Halloween that you could ever want. At 199 pages, it is a comparatively short book and remarkably compact, and yet it covers an enormous amount of material, more than making up in breadth what it might possibly lack in depth. It is also filled with a number of illustrations, from centuries-old woodcuts to contemporary photographs which really give the reader a feel for the periods being covered (and if you're old enough, a nostalgic feel for Halloweens remembered from childhood).

Highly recommended.

Amazing history of Halloween and more.
This book always contains something to peak my interest!!

Great in-depth study of the history of Halloween.

Great book, great service. Buy with confidence.