Halloween

Holiday Series

by Silver RavenWolf

Witches' hats and harvest moon
Ghosts that dance to haunted tune
Apples, goodies, food galore
Halloween has this and more! Just where did the autumn gaiety begin? Let Silver RavenWolf guide you through the cobwebby corners of time to uncover the history behind Halloween. Honor the spirit of this hallowed harvest holiday

Genres: Halloween, Wicca, Nonfiction, Paganism, Witchcraft, Religion, Reference

240 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1999

About the author

Silver RavenWolf (Pennsylvania) is a nationally recognized leader and elder of Wicca, and through her writing has been instrumental in guiding the future of one of the fastest-growing faiths in America today. The author of seventeen books, she has been interviewed by The New York Times, Newsweek Magazine, and the Wall Street Journal, and her work has been featured in numerous publications, including Bust Magazine, the Baltimore Sun, the St. Petersburg Times, the National Review, Publishers Weekly, Body & Soul Magazine, and Teen Lit Magazine.

Her many titles include the bestselling Solitary Witch, Teen Witch, To Ride A Silver Broomstick, To Stir A Magick Cauldron, To Light A Sacred Flame, American Folk Magick, Angels: Companions in Magick, Silver’s Spells for Prosperity, Silver's Spells for Protection, Silver's Spells for Love, Halloween, and the Witches’ Night Out teen fiction series. Her new book Hedge Witch is forthcoming from Llewellyn in September 2008.

Reviews

[Laurie (barksbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read through most of the lore about the season, written in Silver's typical chatty style, and found it an easy read. It's a fun book, nothing to take too seriously, there are a lot of games, spells and other assorted crafts that are perfect for little ones. My favorite section is the recipes (specifically the desserts) that come with cute little enchantments.

Although, a slight caveat is coming here. The recipe for Candied Love Apples features a big oopsie & makes me wonder if the author ever tried to make these herself. It says to place the sugars in a pan on medium heat for 8-10 minutes and then dip the apples. Uh, uh. Doesn't work. Trust me on this. Try more like 20-30 minutes of continues boiling (and NO stirring). It also would've helped to have a tip or two about using a candy thermometer to test for doneness or at the very least use the old drop in cold water and it's done when you see threads. Trust me on this: WEAR SOCKS AND SHOES AT ALL COSTS. I make candles and should have known better but I'm also blond and tend to forget these things. No bare feet, no pretty little open toed sandals. They do not mix with this recipe. I discovered the hard way that hot candy dropped on bare toesies hurts like a b*stard. There's nothing like losing a layer of skin to get one hopping! After taking a few deep breaths and ignoring the searing pain I was able to compose myself enough to concentrate & complete the enchantment for love and wisdom (something I'm in obvious need of!). You've been warned.

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun, informative book, right up the alley I needed with research for a witchy book I’m writing. It gave me the background information I was looking for without overloading me with detail, it gave me some spells, some tasty recipes that I look forward to trying, and some ritual work. All of these things are what I was looking for going into this book and that’s what I took out of it.

RavenWolf strips away the pretense of witchcraft, removing the stigma and the lore, and gives you the most basic of information going back to the roots of the practice. Everything she provided had an origination in the pre-Christian era and, of course, she’s plain with telling about the Christians coming in and annihilating the crap out of everyone and everything who didn’t fall in line to their way of thinking, turning these practices back into the shadows or absorbing them into Christian practices as a means of converting more people.

I really liked the history of things, the why things evolved the way they did, what something meant then and what it means now. It was all very enlightening and lucky for me, my kitten shredded a couple pages of this library book so I ended up having to purchase it! The jerk. But I’m happy I have a copy now to reference whenever I need instead of just my notes. Great information about my favorite holiday, HALLOWEEN! is a must read for any knowledge junkie looking for a little more depth in their holiday.

4.5

[AquaMoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I forgot how much I like Silver Ravenwolf's writing style! Conversational and friendly, like she's talking TO the reader rather than AT the reader. For a non-fiction writer, that's a difficult task indeed. She presents topics in an entertaining and very non-pretentious way (I remember disliking Cunninham because his writing was dry and he came across as kind of, well...snobby. Maybe that's just me, though.). Anyway, I read a few of Silver's books while in college in the late 90s, but haven't picked up anything she's written since. I'm happy I'm revisiting her, because I've really had fun so far!

Halloween is no exception. I mean, a book all about my favorite holiday (as well as my birthday!). How can I NOT read it. I mean, really. And this one is particularly fun. First there is a brief history of the holiday, all about how it evolved from a harvest festival/day to honor the dead and grew into what we celebrate today. Interesting stuff. And now I can spaz my friends out with odd little Halloween-y facts ( For example: Did you know that children born on Halloween have lifeling protection from evil ghosties and other things that go bump in the night. They're also lucky ). There's a section on Halloween symbols (black cats, jack-o-lanterns & such) and superstitions. There's recipies. There's even a whole section on fortune telling-type games.

This book has it all. And it made me happy to read it!

[Adrianne Rosal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved finding out about the history of different Halloween customs and symbols!!

[Shadow Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know that there are a lot of haters when it comes to Silver's books, but I'm never ashamed to admit that I've loved her writing since I picked up my copy of To Ride a Silver Broomstick: New Generation Witchcraft all those years ago.
HALLOWEEN: SPELLS, RECIPES & CUSTOMS is a very fun book, as well as informative. She does most of her own illustrations, and they mesh with her writing beautifully. As much as you think you know about Halloween / Samhain, I'll bet that you'll still learn something new here. A bit of history, a yummy new recipe, or maybe even a new way to to try that spell you just can't get to take!
It's a great book for everybody, Christian or Pagan.

['Nathan Burgoine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, I'm not a random Silver Ravenwolf basher, but if Llewellyn was trying to launch a sabbat series, and started (as it should be) with Hallowe'en, I really wish they'd have taken a more serious author. While the book is okay - it's only okay - and doesn't rise to the levels of quality in Lammas, Beltane and Yule. It's too bad, but I didn't want a fun and silly book, I wanted something with a bit more depth to match the rest of the series.

Still, there's a lot of mythology here, and if you can handle Silver Ravenwolf's "voice over" monologues, you can find a few nuggets in this book.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

i read a couple of chapters of this book online, haven't read the whole thing, what I have read so far has been very interesting. A whole history of Halloween, which is by far one of my favorite holidays! Helps to know the real reason we celebrate Halloween!

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for learning the history of halloween etc. This book is full of fun for the fall/halloween lovers out there~

[Lillian ♥️The Death Hunter♥️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really creepy but I kinda like it though

[K.S. Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

You should never judge a book by it's cover and in this case, that's good advice. The cover does not do justice to the information contained within and that's really a shame because I wonder how many people have passed on this book because of it.

It's the most comprehensive book on Halloween that I've found, while being easy to connect with and enjoyable to read. The first three chapters are packed with info about Halloween's history, from Paleopagan practices to modern day traditions. The book continues to discuss divination, recipes, spells, and how you can honor those who have left us. I was drawn to the defense spell, the crossing ritual, and the solitary ritual, which you can use either as they are presented or as a template and personalize.

[James Slaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very easy read, the author writes with good flow. The first chapter devotes itself to the history of Halloween, which would take up the full text of most such books. So if you want a nice overview, this is perfect. The rest of the book is more neo-pagan/Wiccan, with spells and divinations and such. Very good, if that's what you like! My only issue is the use of Germanic and Norse bits, as those would work better at Yule or Walpurgis Night or similar.

[Amanda Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched!

This is a really well researched book with a lot of history, insight and just plain fun regarding Halloween. Lots of recipes, traditions both ancient and modern and the stories behind them.

[Juli Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being in grad school does not afford me a cover-to-cover read, but I very thoroughly browsed this one. More "history" and lore than I generally prefer, but there are still a decent number of recipes, spells, and rituals.

[Stella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting Wiccan perspective on Halloween. First half is a fun-to-read history, with background on various traditions, symbols, and superstitions. The second half is more for practicing Witches, with recipes, divination techniques, and rituals to remember the deceased.

[Susan Marie Ballain · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this was a very interesting, informative and entertaining book I’ve read about Halloween yet this year!
There was so much in this book that I learned from recipes to fun facts to Halloween symbolism! The learning seamed endless!
I definitely recommend this as a much for Halloween 🎃

[Autumn Sapphire Moon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book by Silver. I know she's one that people either love or hate and a couple of her books I've read were disappointing to say the least, but this one was actually pretty good.

[DEANMA · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was really great.

[Amber Blackwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Mother gave me this Book for my Birthday. I was done with it by Halloween. Great Book.

[Denielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well written book in its time. I especially like the section on Halloween history.

[Melody Hession-Sigmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun collection of Halloween treats. History, recipes, divination. Was interesting and fun to read. I especially liked reading the folktale of Jack-O-Lanterns out loud to my husband :)

[G.M.H. M. G.M.H.]

I love this book, bought it when it first came out. She delved into a great history and told a great story.

[Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

History, recipes, spells and divination.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The lore, rituals, spells, and recipes for the Sabbat of Samhain are here. This is a wonderful to help you understand that this time of year is for more than dressing up and receiving candy.

[Vicki Chicago-Marsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A witchy book of activities/spells to do in honor of the spooky season.

[Jeanine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative history mixed with recipes and rituals

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally got me in the holiday spirit! Review to come.

[Kai Charles(Fiction State Of Mind) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great history and fun recipes to try!

[Michael P · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read with some history of the host and some shield and rituals to end the pagan new year with.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

History of Halloween with Recipes!

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot of information in this book, but I'm missing pictures or color illustrations to bring the book to life.