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Llewellyn's Little Books #6
Llewellyn's Little Book of Halloween
This fun, pocket-size book shares everything you need to know to celebrate the festival when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest. Filled with crafts, recipes, spells, tutorials, and other unique ideas, this little book will help you make the most out of this special time of year. Explore how Halloween was celebrated throughout history, from harvest festivals and the Celtic new year through All Souls Day and trick or treating. Discover décor ideas for the home or garden, and learn how cats, bats, ghosts, skeletons, and other popular symbols became associated with Halloween. This book is a must have for anyone who already loves Halloween or for anyone who wants to know how to mark the day with a witchy twist. "This little book is a history of Halloween, a party-planning inspiration and a book of charms all rolled into one."― BookPage
240 pages, Hardcover
Published September 8, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
July 26, 2019
Absolutely adorable little book on Halloween. This book is cut into five sections which goes through the history of Halloween, creating a haunting atmosphere, celebrating with tricks and treats, folklore traditions customs and spells, and Halloween divination and spirit communication. The exercises and recipes are perfect for any Halloween lovers that want to join in with a little witchy fun. The history and folklore is indeed very well-researched and very fun to read. Very well done little book.
October 5, 2022
This book is seriously great! I found it by chance when searching for a Halloween book to read for a challenge.
To be honest, I didn’t have high expectations, mainly because books like this can be hit or miss. I imagine it can be difficult to make informative books be entertaining and engaging enough to keep a reader’s interest. I was pleasantly surprised with how engaging this was.
This is a great read for all, but I’d say this is definitely geared towards “witchy” folk. :)
To be honest, I didn’t have high expectations, mainly because books like this can be hit or miss. I imagine it can be difficult to make informative books be entertaining and engaging enough to keep a reader’s interest. I was pleasantly surprised with how engaging this was.
This is a great read for all, but I’d say this is definitely geared towards “witchy” folk. :)
October 8, 2022
Giving it two stars for the brief history and some history of the spells. The witchcraft was a little much for me. Wasn't expecting essentially the entire book to be for witches.
December 15, 2018
This little book of Halloween contains a surprising amount of knowledge on spellcraft for being commercially available. It was easy to read, contained tips that weren't too complicated, and doesn't present itself in a way that would force someone out of the broom closet if it were found. For its purpose, it fits perfectly, and I would recommend this little tome to newer witches seeking traditions to implement on Samhain.
September 10, 2019
Basically just wasn't what I was expecting. It was a cute and easy read but was more or less just crafting and trick or treating tips mixed in with a very brief historical overview that had more to do with commercialism than anything else. Was not expecting to get Halloween movie reviews out of this and I would not recommend.
May 3, 2021
Great read with a lot of useful informafion (even though it is a little book) for everyone interested in Halloween, Samhain, the spirit realm and more. If you're planning on expanding your craft by making some awesome spells, by communicating with your ancestors or by enhancimg your connection with the spirit world using different means during certain celebration days, this book will help you on your path.
October 24, 2021
This is the perfect book to have on your bedside table all throughout October to help get you into the spirit. Filled with everything from the history and origins behind this spooky holiday to activities, decorating tips, and even a little witchcraft and divination, this little pocketbook guide to Halloween is a must-read for the autumnal season!
October 11, 2019
I love Halloween, and this was a really fun read. I learned a bit more about the holiday than I knew before.
November 7, 2022
This tiny hardback book is absolutely wonderful for witches and non-witches who are looking to celebrate Hallowe’en / Samhain and perform rites for it. I really enjoyed every moment of it!
September 24, 2020
Was somewhat disappointed in this book. I did expect it to be a little bit different from other Halloween books that I've read in the past but it wasn't. Granted there were a few spells and recipes but nothing that really stood out.
October 17, 2018
I already knew quite a bit about Halloween's history, so I learned nothing new there, but this book also offers a number of rituals, intentions, old world recipes (e.g., soul cakes, barmbrak), and explanations of common Halloween symbols that made it an interesting read.
December 5, 2023
Great book on Halloween! Interesting foklore, history and ideas. Loved that it was more focused on folk practices.
November 2, 2024
has some good witchy tips i def will use for future halloween's !!!
August 29, 2026
I have never understood the idea that witches have to choose between celebrating Samhain seriously and loving Halloween shamelessly. I want the ancestors, divination, candles, spirits, and sacred observance, but I also want jack-o'-lanterns, costumes, caramel apples, ghost stories, ridiculous decorations, and horror movies.
Mickie Mueller clearly understands this because Llewellyn's Little Book of Halloween embraces the entire season. It moves comfortably between Pagan spirituality, folk tradition, modern Halloween culture, magical practice, and pure seasonal fun without acting as though enjoying one somehow cheapens the others.
That balance gives the book enormous charm. Mueller explores the history of Halloween and Samhain, but she is equally interested in how familiar symbols like black cats, bats, ghosts, skeletons, masks, and jack-o'-lanterns became part of the holiday we recognize today.
I especially enjoyed the folklore because so many Halloween customs have become completely detached from their original contexts. Something as ordinary as carving a pumpkin becomes more interesting after learning about turnip lanterns, while familiar foods and games suddenly reveal older divinatory and magical dimensions.
The book is also packed with things to actually do. There are soul cakes, barmbrack, caramel apples, magical decorations, protective charms, ancestor offerings, spells, pendulum work, card reading, tea-leaf reading, and instructions for holding a séance.
That makes it perfect for pulling off the shelf every October. You could choose completely different activities each year and gradually develop your own collection of Halloween traditions.
I particularly liked the ancestor and spirit material because Mueller lets the tone deepen naturally as the book progresses. Halloween begins with costumes, decorations, treats, and folklore, but eventually the ghosts stop being merely decorative and become the beloved dead.
That transition captures something essential about the holiday for me. Halloween can be funny, frightening, nostalgic, sacred, theatrical, and genuinely emotional within the same evening.
The divination section fits beautifully for the same reason. Apples, nuts, dreams, cards, pendulums, Ouija boards, tea leaves, and séances connect contemporary magical practice with the long association between Halloween and attempts to glimpse what normally remains hidden.
Mueller's obvious affection for the holiday makes all of this particularly enjoyable. Reviewers mention that enthusiasm repeatedly, and it really does feel contagious.
There are certainly more specialized books on Samhain, ancestor work, spirit communication, Halloween history, and divination. That is not really what this little book is trying to be.
It is a celebration.
Llewellyn's Little Book of Halloween captures the strange abundance of October when grocery stores fill with pumpkins, plastic skeletons appear on lawns, old stories about the dead begin circulating again, witches prepare for Samhain, children become monsters for an evening, and suddenly an entire culture becomes temporarily fascinated with ghosts.
Mueller gives all of it permission to belong together.
That may be why I found the book so delightful. Sometimes the sacred hides inside the playful, and sometimes putting on a costume, carving a frightening face into a vegetable, telling ghost stories, feeding the dead, and asking an oracle what the coming year holds are all expressions of the same ancient human impulse.
Halloween contains multitudes, and this little book seems determined to celebrate every one of them.
Mickie Mueller clearly understands this because Llewellyn's Little Book of Halloween embraces the entire season. It moves comfortably between Pagan spirituality, folk tradition, modern Halloween culture, magical practice, and pure seasonal fun without acting as though enjoying one somehow cheapens the others.
That balance gives the book enormous charm. Mueller explores the history of Halloween and Samhain, but she is equally interested in how familiar symbols like black cats, bats, ghosts, skeletons, masks, and jack-o'-lanterns became part of the holiday we recognize today.
I especially enjoyed the folklore because so many Halloween customs have become completely detached from their original contexts. Something as ordinary as carving a pumpkin becomes more interesting after learning about turnip lanterns, while familiar foods and games suddenly reveal older divinatory and magical dimensions.
The book is also packed with things to actually do. There are soul cakes, barmbrack, caramel apples, magical decorations, protective charms, ancestor offerings, spells, pendulum work, card reading, tea-leaf reading, and instructions for holding a séance.
That makes it perfect for pulling off the shelf every October. You could choose completely different activities each year and gradually develop your own collection of Halloween traditions.
I particularly liked the ancestor and spirit material because Mueller lets the tone deepen naturally as the book progresses. Halloween begins with costumes, decorations, treats, and folklore, but eventually the ghosts stop being merely decorative and become the beloved dead.
That transition captures something essential about the holiday for me. Halloween can be funny, frightening, nostalgic, sacred, theatrical, and genuinely emotional within the same evening.
The divination section fits beautifully for the same reason. Apples, nuts, dreams, cards, pendulums, Ouija boards, tea leaves, and séances connect contemporary magical practice with the long association between Halloween and attempts to glimpse what normally remains hidden.
Mueller's obvious affection for the holiday makes all of this particularly enjoyable. Reviewers mention that enthusiasm repeatedly, and it really does feel contagious.
There are certainly more specialized books on Samhain, ancestor work, spirit communication, Halloween history, and divination. That is not really what this little book is trying to be.
It is a celebration.
Llewellyn's Little Book of Halloween captures the strange abundance of October when grocery stores fill with pumpkins, plastic skeletons appear on lawns, old stories about the dead begin circulating again, witches prepare for Samhain, children become monsters for an evening, and suddenly an entire culture becomes temporarily fascinated with ghosts.
Mueller gives all of it permission to belong together.
That may be why I found the book so delightful. Sometimes the sacred hides inside the playful, and sometimes putting on a costume, carving a frightening face into a vegetable, telling ghost stories, feeding the dead, and asking an oracle what the coming year holds are all expressions of the same ancient human impulse.
Halloween contains multitudes, and this little book seems determined to celebrate every one of them.
September 1, 2026
I have an unreasonable number of books about Halloween, Samhain, folklore, ghosts, divination, and witchcraft, so I wasn't expecting a book this small to give me much I hadn't encountered before. Llewellyn's Little Book of Halloween completely won me over anyway. Mickie Mueller understands that Halloween is simultaneously a holiday, a collection of folk customs, a season, a modern celebration, and for many Pagans and witches a sacred time of year. Instead of insisting that one of those versions is the “real” Halloween, she lets them mingle together in exactly the way they do every October.
The folklore was probably my favorite part. Mueller explores the history and traditions surrounding Samhain and Halloween alongside familiar seasonal practices involving costumes, jack-o'-lanterns, apples, spirits, divination, and the dead. I especially enjoyed seeing customs that have become almost completely secular placed back into their older folkloric and magical contexts. Things we now encounter as decorations, party games, or childhood traditions often have wonderfully strange histories behind them, and knowing those stories somehow makes Halloween feel even richer.
There is also plenty here for an actual seasonal practice. Mueller includes spells, rituals, divination, crafts, recipes, decorating ideas, and ways of honoring ancestors and engaging with the spirit world. I liked that the magical material doesn't overwhelm the Halloween material. This isn't simply a Samhain ritual book wearing an orange-and-black cover. There is room for sacred observance and genuine witchcraft alongside candy, costumes, parties, pumpkins, spooky stories, and all the theatrical fun that makes the holiday what it is.
That balance is what made me love the book. Sometimes writing about Halloween becomes so determined to uncover its ancient spiritual origins that it drains all the delight out of the modern holiday. Mueller understands that carving pumpkins, decorating the house, watching something spooky, telling ghost stories, performing divination, setting out offerings for the dead, and conducting a Samhain ritual can all belong to the same season. The playful and the sacred don't have to compete with each other. In my experience, Halloween has always been at its most magical when they overlap.
I also appreciated how easy this is to dip into rather than read straight through. It feels like the sort of book I could pull off the shelf every September or October, flip through until something catches my attention, and immediately have an idea for the season. A recipe one year, a divination technique the next, a piece of folklore I had forgotten, or a ritual that inspires something entirely new. That kind of usefulness matters to me more than whether every page contains information I've never encountered before.
Llewellyn's Little Book of Halloween feels much bigger than its size because Mueller captures so many different reasons people love this time of year. There is history here, but also nostalgia. There is witchcraft, but also mischief. There are ghosts and ancestors alongside pumpkins, parties, food, costumes, and divination. Most importantly, there is genuine affection for Halloween on every page. I finished it wanting cold nights, candlelight, fallen leaves, carved pumpkins, ghost stories, and that particular October feeling that the world has become just a little stranger. That's exactly what I want a Halloween book to do.
The folklore was probably my favorite part. Mueller explores the history and traditions surrounding Samhain and Halloween alongside familiar seasonal practices involving costumes, jack-o'-lanterns, apples, spirits, divination, and the dead. I especially enjoyed seeing customs that have become almost completely secular placed back into their older folkloric and magical contexts. Things we now encounter as decorations, party games, or childhood traditions often have wonderfully strange histories behind them, and knowing those stories somehow makes Halloween feel even richer.
There is also plenty here for an actual seasonal practice. Mueller includes spells, rituals, divination, crafts, recipes, decorating ideas, and ways of honoring ancestors and engaging with the spirit world. I liked that the magical material doesn't overwhelm the Halloween material. This isn't simply a Samhain ritual book wearing an orange-and-black cover. There is room for sacred observance and genuine witchcraft alongside candy, costumes, parties, pumpkins, spooky stories, and all the theatrical fun that makes the holiday what it is.
That balance is what made me love the book. Sometimes writing about Halloween becomes so determined to uncover its ancient spiritual origins that it drains all the delight out of the modern holiday. Mueller understands that carving pumpkins, decorating the house, watching something spooky, telling ghost stories, performing divination, setting out offerings for the dead, and conducting a Samhain ritual can all belong to the same season. The playful and the sacred don't have to compete with each other. In my experience, Halloween has always been at its most magical when they overlap.
I also appreciated how easy this is to dip into rather than read straight through. It feels like the sort of book I could pull off the shelf every September or October, flip through until something catches my attention, and immediately have an idea for the season. A recipe one year, a divination technique the next, a piece of folklore I had forgotten, or a ritual that inspires something entirely new. That kind of usefulness matters to me more than whether every page contains information I've never encountered before.
Llewellyn's Little Book of Halloween feels much bigger than its size because Mueller captures so many different reasons people love this time of year. There is history here, but also nostalgia. There is witchcraft, but also mischief. There are ghosts and ancestors alongside pumpkins, parties, food, costumes, and divination. Most importantly, there is genuine affection for Halloween on every page. I finished it wanting cold nights, candlelight, fallen leaves, carved pumpkins, ghost stories, and that particular October feeling that the world has become just a little stranger. That's exactly what I want a Halloween book to do.
October 1, 2021
As part of mini-project “Clear some of my spooky books of the shelf this spooky season,” a subproject of project “Read at least 25 books I’d already owned by December 31, 2020 in 2021” I decided to pick up an extremely cute little orange-and-black volume I’d bought in a fugue state at Witch City Wicks last October called Llewellyn’s Little Book of Halloween, by Mickie Mueller.
At its most useful, this is basically a party planning book. It has some light edutainment about the history of Halloween and the background of various Halloween traditions, but most what it’s got is cocktail recipes, movie recommendations, and party tricks, including some easy low magic that you can use to get yourself and your friends in the Halloween spirit (or summon some Halloween spirits, depending on how hardcore you are). It’s full of cute illustrations of ghosts and cats and swirly spiderwebby patterns, and it will look lovely on my shelf of witchy shit next to the old-timey glass bottles and all my tarot decks.
For some reason, this thing took me 10 days to read. Some of that is because it has been a busy 10 days, full of things that did not involve getting any long stretches of uninterrupted reading time, but that was made worse by the sort of disjointed novelty book aspect of the book--it’s not really meant to be read cover to cover as a single narrative; it is just a compendium of things you can reference. This annoys me even though the only actual criticism I have of the book is that it refers to smoke cleansing with sage as “smudging” a couple of times and, come on, we should know better than that, it’s just smoke cleansing.
Anyway, if anyone wants to make opal hush cocktails this spooky season, hit me up because I have a recipe I want to try!
Originally posted at Some tricks and some treats.
At its most useful, this is basically a party planning book. It has some light edutainment about the history of Halloween and the background of various Halloween traditions, but most what it’s got is cocktail recipes, movie recommendations, and party tricks, including some easy low magic that you can use to get yourself and your friends in the Halloween spirit (or summon some Halloween spirits, depending on how hardcore you are). It’s full of cute illustrations of ghosts and cats and swirly spiderwebby patterns, and it will look lovely on my shelf of witchy shit next to the old-timey glass bottles and all my tarot decks.
For some reason, this thing took me 10 days to read. Some of that is because it has been a busy 10 days, full of things that did not involve getting any long stretches of uninterrupted reading time, but that was made worse by the sort of disjointed novelty book aspect of the book--it’s not really meant to be read cover to cover as a single narrative; it is just a compendium of things you can reference. This annoys me even though the only actual criticism I have of the book is that it refers to smoke cleansing with sage as “smudging” a couple of times and, come on, we should know better than that, it’s just smoke cleansing.
Anyway, if anyone wants to make opal hush cocktails this spooky season, hit me up because I have a recipe I want to try!
Originally posted at Some tricks and some treats.
September 3, 2026
Halloween has changed quite a bit during my lifetime, and so has the way witches talk about it. I remember when simply finding a book that treated Samhain as something more than costumes and candy felt exciting, and now we have an embarrassment of riches. Mickie Mueller's little book sits happily between those worlds. She clearly loves the pumpkins, decorations, ghost stories and general mischief of Halloween, but she also understands why this season has such depth for witches and Pagans. I appreciate that she doesn't seem to think enjoying one side makes the other less meaningful. I've never understood why reverence for the dead should prevent anyone from also putting a ridiculous jack-o'-lantern on the porch.
For such a small book, there is a surprising amount tucked inside. Mueller moves through Halloween and Samhain customs, folklore, divination, magical practices, seasonal activities and ways of honoring ancestors and the dead. Some of it was familiar territory for me, but that didn't bother me in the slightest. Seasonal books are a bit like old recipe boxes: sometimes you're looking for something new, and sometimes you want to be reminded of a tradition you haven't thought about in years. I found myself marking a couple of ideas for October and remembering things I used to do regularly that had somehow fallen out of my practice.
This would be an easy book to hand to someone just beginning to explore the magical side of Halloween, but I think older witches may enjoy it for a different reason. It captures something I've always loved about the season, when the sacred and the wonderfully tacky are allowed to coexist without anybody needing to apologize for either one. My Samhains have become quieter and more ancestor-focused as I've gotten older, perhaps because there are more names to remember now. But I still carve pumpkins, still enjoy a good ghost story, and still feel a little thrill when October arrives. Mueller understands that all of those things can belong to the same holiday.
For such a small book, there is a surprising amount tucked inside. Mueller moves through Halloween and Samhain customs, folklore, divination, magical practices, seasonal activities and ways of honoring ancestors and the dead. Some of it was familiar territory for me, but that didn't bother me in the slightest. Seasonal books are a bit like old recipe boxes: sometimes you're looking for something new, and sometimes you want to be reminded of a tradition you haven't thought about in years. I found myself marking a couple of ideas for October and remembering things I used to do regularly that had somehow fallen out of my practice.
This would be an easy book to hand to someone just beginning to explore the magical side of Halloween, but I think older witches may enjoy it for a different reason. It captures something I've always loved about the season, when the sacred and the wonderfully tacky are allowed to coexist without anybody needing to apologize for either one. My Samhains have become quieter and more ancestor-focused as I've gotten older, perhaps because there are more names to remember now. But I still carve pumpkins, still enjoy a good ghost story, and still feel a little thrill when October arrives. Mueller understands that all of those things can belong to the same holiday.
September 27, 2023
After reading witch books, I searched for similar titles and discovered a nonfiction treat in Llewellyn's Little Book of Halloween. Authored by a practicing witch and Halloween enthusiast, Mickie Mueller takes readers on an exploration of the holiday in both its modern secular celebrations and pagan origins.
Mueller covers everything you need to know to celebrate Halloween and Samhain. It's filled with crafts, recipes, spells, and other unique ideas. There are five chapters with the first diving into the history of Halloween. The second chapter includes décor ideas and uncovers how cats, bats, ghosts, skeletons, and other symbols became associated with Halloween. Chapter three outlines ways to celebrate like trick-or-treating, haunted attractions, and watching scary movies. Chapter four covers folklore, traditions, and spells. Finally, the book discusses divination and spirit communication.
First of all, I loved the interior design and artwork, capturing the playfulness of Halloween. Mueller's writing is engaging and her exploration of both modern Halloween and its pagan origins were fascinating. I love how the book covers Halloween from the fun to the spiritual. Whether or not you're into trying witchy practices or spells, knowing deeper meanings makes the holiday more enchanting. For a unique read full of history, party-planning inspiration, and spells, I highly recommend Llewellyn's Little Book of Halloween.
Mueller covers everything you need to know to celebrate Halloween and Samhain. It's filled with crafts, recipes, spells, and other unique ideas. There are five chapters with the first diving into the history of Halloween. The second chapter includes décor ideas and uncovers how cats, bats, ghosts, skeletons, and other symbols became associated with Halloween. Chapter three outlines ways to celebrate like trick-or-treating, haunted attractions, and watching scary movies. Chapter four covers folklore, traditions, and spells. Finally, the book discusses divination and spirit communication.
First of all, I loved the interior design and artwork, capturing the playfulness of Halloween. Mueller's writing is engaging and her exploration of both modern Halloween and its pagan origins were fascinating. I love how the book covers Halloween from the fun to the spiritual. Whether or not you're into trying witchy practices or spells, knowing deeper meanings makes the holiday more enchanting. For a unique read full of history, party-planning inspiration, and spells, I highly recommend Llewellyn's Little Book of Halloween.
November 20, 2023
"Halloween" to kolejna cudownie wydana książeczka z serii Małych Przewodników, która przybliżyła mi to święto od wielu stron. Niektóre były oczywiste i ogólnikowe, ale inne pozwoliły mi dojrzeć głębię tego dnia oraz to, co wzbudza w ludziach, jakich dostarcza im wrażeń i co ich tak w nim pociąga.
Szczególnie spodobały mi się oczywiście ciekawostki związane z tradycjami ludowymi, przesądami czy wydarzeniami i symbolami, które przyczyniły się do tego, że Halloween wygląda obecnie tak jak wygląda 😁
Było tu naprawdę wiele interesujących ciekawostek, które nadały ubieraniu kostiumów, masek i wycinaniu latarni z dyni (lub rzepy😉) większą głębię.
Autorka jest wielką entuzjastką tego święta, czuć to po stylu w jakim opisuje halloween oraz wspomina to, jak sama je obchodziła/obchodzi. Podaje wiele porad, własnych obserwacji i doświadczeń.
W środku znajduje się również wiele inspiracji na halloweenowe zabawy, rytuały i obchody. Więc nie tylko teoria, ale również zachęcenie do praktyki.
Przyznaję, że mnie interesowały głównie genezy i symbolika halloween, ale ciekawie było przejrzeć też pomysły na zabawy, które inni tak lubią 😁
Jeśli jesteście fanami tego święta - to myślę, że ta książeczka pozwoli Wam poszerzyć wiedzę, dostarczy inspiracji oraz obudzi w Was ekscytację i ducha jesieni!
Jeśli jednak nie jesteście fanami, lecz poszukujecie ciekawostek, to znajdziecie tu podstawowe informacje, które Was interesują i pewnie zachęcą do dalszych poszukiwań 😁
Szczególnie spodobały mi się oczywiście ciekawostki związane z tradycjami ludowymi, przesądami czy wydarzeniami i symbolami, które przyczyniły się do tego, że Halloween wygląda obecnie tak jak wygląda 😁
Było tu naprawdę wiele interesujących ciekawostek, które nadały ubieraniu kostiumów, masek i wycinaniu latarni z dyni (lub rzepy😉) większą głębię.
Autorka jest wielką entuzjastką tego święta, czuć to po stylu w jakim opisuje halloween oraz wspomina to, jak sama je obchodziła/obchodzi. Podaje wiele porad, własnych obserwacji i doświadczeń.
W środku znajduje się również wiele inspiracji na halloweenowe zabawy, rytuały i obchody. Więc nie tylko teoria, ale również zachęcenie do praktyki.
Przyznaję, że mnie interesowały głównie genezy i symbolika halloween, ale ciekawie było przejrzeć też pomysły na zabawy, które inni tak lubią 😁
Jeśli jesteście fanami tego święta - to myślę, że ta książeczka pozwoli Wam poszerzyć wiedzę, dostarczy inspiracji oraz obudzi w Was ekscytację i ducha jesieni!
Jeśli jednak nie jesteście fanami, lecz poszukujecie ciekawostek, to znajdziecie tu podstawowe informacje, które Was interesują i pewnie zachęcą do dalszych poszukiwań 😁
November 10, 2019
The parts that were about the history and traditions of Halloween were very interesting and informative. The parts that were aimed at practicers of magic or Wicca or witchcraft were not very interesting to me, as I'm a bit of a skeptic when it comes to that sort of thing. However, it's not really a flaw with the book so much as a flaw of myself not thoroughly seeing what kind of book it was before I began reading it. I thought it was solely about the history and traditions of Halloween, not about magic or witchcraft.
A worthy read with some interesting information about the origins of Halloween, but people interested in the history of the holiday as opposed to the magical applications of it may want to look elsewhere. If you are a skeptic about magic or witchcraft, you may find yourself rolling your eyes at some parts in the book.
A worthy read with some interesting information about the origins of Halloween, but people interested in the history of the holiday as opposed to the magical applications of it may want to look elsewhere. If you are a skeptic about magic or witchcraft, you may find yourself rolling your eyes at some parts in the book.
November 7, 2020
Por fin lo terminé.. Llevo así como que más de un año intentando leerlo pero es que se me hacia tan aburrido que al final lo terminaba dejando.
Es cierto que tiene partes interesantes (sobre todo la primera acerca de la historia de Halloween y la última sobre prácticas mágicas para este día); sin embargo, el resto del libro es soporifero... Y más teniendo en cuenta que esta escrito y orientado para los estadounidenses y que aquí en España de todo lo que se dice no hay ni un 5% de las cosas ni de la devoción a esta fiesta (somos más del Día de todos los santos).
Así que nada, sin más. Vale como lectura para mejorar tu inglés y para saber más de Halloween y como celebrarlo y fin. No es la lectura de mi vida sinceramente.
Es cierto que tiene partes interesantes (sobre todo la primera acerca de la historia de Halloween y la última sobre prácticas mágicas para este día); sin embargo, el resto del libro es soporifero... Y más teniendo en cuenta que esta escrito y orientado para los estadounidenses y que aquí en España de todo lo que se dice no hay ni un 5% de las cosas ni de la devoción a esta fiesta (somos más del Día de todos los santos).
Así que nada, sin más. Vale como lectura para mejorar tu inglés y para saber más de Halloween y como celebrarlo y fin. No es la lectura de mi vida sinceramente.
October 3, 2018
This book was not what I was expecting. But that isn't a bad thing. This book is filled with history on Halloween/Samhain, craft ideas for a magical home, magical recipes, folklore traditions and of course, spells. There is even a little section on including your pets in the Halloween festivities.
This book was extremely easy to read and filled with various exercises for each section of the book. Some are basic things you most likely already know, like carving a pumpkin, but I never felt those exercises were irrelevant because it all reflected Halloween.
Overall, a great book for Halloween.
This book was extremely easy to read and filled with various exercises for each section of the book. Some are basic things you most likely already know, like carving a pumpkin, but I never felt those exercises were irrelevant because it all reflected Halloween.
Overall, a great book for Halloween.
October 23, 2019
Very cute and fun little book for anyone interested in Halloween. Some of the information will not be new to Halloween-lovers, but some of it has got to be - I can't imagine even the most devoted spooky day fans won't learn something they didn't know before. Also, the book is written by a practicing witch, so there is an emphasis on magic and divination which I highly enjoyed. I had a great time reading the author's history with and insight on the holiday and I have earmarked several recipes and activities to try. The design of the book is also well-done.
October 20, 2020
I did a lot of eye-rolling at this - it had good crafting ideas and decent-sounding recipes, which is what I came for, but pages devoted to spooky movie reviews felt out of place. The author honors pagan traditions in some points, but in other places treats them like a 19th century occultist would. (A seance? Yikes.) Points at least for mentioning choosing costumes that avoid cultural appropriation, but the author did so in a very generic, unspecific way, saying nothing of what specifically to avoid. Read the Samhain book by Llewelyn instead.
November 1, 2021
Tiene información interesante acerca de los orígenes y significado de diferentes tradiciones, costumbres y creencias relacionadas a Halloween, pero creo que es una visión super básica y sesgada de muchas cosas.
Incluye "hechizos" y tips para quienes creen en esas cosas pero he de decir que incluso viendo esas secciones desde afuera y sin deseo de juzgar, se ven increíblemente básicos y muy localizados para un público nada internacional.
Pero el libro físicamente es bonito y es una edición muy linda, con páginas a color y detallitos cute por todos lados.
Incluye "hechizos" y tips para quienes creen en esas cosas pero he de decir que incluso viendo esas secciones desde afuera y sin deseo de juzgar, se ven increíblemente básicos y muy localizados para un público nada internacional.
Pero el libro físicamente es bonito y es una edición muy linda, con páginas a color y detallitos cute por todos lados.
January 3, 2022
I really enjoyed the beginning and the end of this book, but middle seemed like filler. The beginning has a nice overview of the history of Halloween along with its similarities and divergences from Samhain and other similar holidays. The end details some interesting spells, rituals, and activities to do. However, the middle essentially boils down to “go trick or treating,” “go to haunted houses,” and other very obvious things to do on Halloween.
October 21, 2024
Looking to learn the history of Halloween, how to make your own turnip lantern, some fun traditions and party ideas, and even a few simple spells? This book touches on a variety of topics, presenting them in an engaging way that makes me want to celebrate. I've tested a few of the activities and found them fun and a little bit magical. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in the pagan roots of Halloween or folks who just love the holiday and want to know more about it.
December 2, 2018
Good all around introduction to the history and traditions of Halloween. Fun for fans of the holiday, and also great for those new to American culture who wonder what all the fuss is about. Note: while this book is definitely written from a pagan perspective, the history embedded in the spells makes all sections worth reading, even if you aren’t a practicing witch.
February 23, 2019
Incredible. This books has both the historical and religious aspects associated with Halloween and Samhain included, and finds a nice balance between both sides with little effort. The author's passion on the matter is contagious and makes the wait for Halloween all the more exciting. If you like this spooky time of the year, grab a copy and let Mickie Mueller guide you through the night.
September 13, 2026
I liked the historical part of it. Then suddenly it felt like Halloween for Dummies, or advice for someone who has never celebrated the holiday before. And while I’m all for witchy things I wasn’t expecting it here so it kind of threw me off, plus a lot of it was things I already knew. I was kind of hoping for more decorative crafts ideas when I picked this.
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