Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween

The simplicity of the cover of Trick or Treat by Lisa Morton belies the incredible design, thorough research, and sheer fun of reading about the inception of Halloween and its burgeoning popularity in the past 100+ years. This is NOT just a dull, stifling history book, but a delightful dance through the ages of our now popular holiday. I cannot recommend this book enough. The images throughout are fun and informative, while the text is superbly written. Read this book to your children before they go trick or treating and you won't be disappointed. Lisa dispels many of the myths regarding Halloween and documents the true facts around Halloween, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day. Seriously, don't miss this one if you want to know anything about Halloween. I have read numerous books about the holiday and this is by the far the best.

Though not a historian by trade, I consider myself reasonably well-versed in history. I further consider myself more than reasonably well-versed in Halloween, horror, and the macabre. It was therefore a most pleasant surprise to find that Lisa Morton's Trick or Treat didn't merely offer a collection of amusing but tired anecdotes with which I was already familiar. Rather, this short book presents broad history of the holiday ranging from its European roots to its heyday in America and its undeniable influence on popular culture. Indeed, despite my background, I found more new information here than old. The act of reading this book has significantly deepened my knowledge and understanding of one of my own favorite holidays.The book begins by correcting some common misconceptions about Halloween's origins, painting a complicated but fascinating portrait of the festival's evolution through the centuries, culminating in a lengthy discussion of how the holiday finally took root and morphed into what we recognize as the modern Halloween largely in America. A full chapter is then dedicated to tracing how Halloween has (or hasn't) been exported to other countries, and an additional chapter examines the parallels between Halloween and Days of the Dead. The book closes with a lengthy chapter tracing references to Halloween in popular culture, beginning even before the holiday was recognizable as Halloween and culminating with modern literary and cinematic treatments. Though the book is divided by topic rather than by time period and thus presents a non-linear exploration of its subject, it nevertheless offers a surprisingly complete history given its relatively short length.Many of the book's sections briefly consider Halloween's connection to some cultural or historical phenomenon or other, inspiring not-insignificant curiosity about the broader context of those cultural or historical events. If I were to offer any criticism of this book it is merely that its length prevents a deeper examination of the cultural context in which its events took place. However, the presentation of these happenings is so intriguing, the book actually serves as an springboard for further reading. Personally, I'll be following up some of Morton's references to engage in a deeper study of how Halloween and related festivals have developed in parallel with various supernatural belief structures.As I write this, having just finished reading the book, it's mid-October and my thoughts are drifting toward the upcoming holiday. I highly recommend Trick or Treat as perhaps the perfect book with which to kick off your own Halloween season.

This was a gift for my niece who loves Halloween. Full of history and anecdotes. She loved it.

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 can’t remember if I bought this used but I don’t think I did. Obvious wear on the top and bottom of the spine. Like it was in a backpack. Would rather have a new looking book for what I payed but everything is legible

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.

Reasonably interesting book. Needed a stronger editor....organization of the book is haphazard. Writing is not particularly strong either.

Good history on Halloween, not terribly exciting but interesting to read if you are into the holiday

Interesting, enjoyable.

as expected

An extremely thorough and entertaining read, for those of us with an interest in the spookiest night of the year.

lovely book!

This is a very interesting and informative book - great for halloween enthusiasts like my boyfriend!!!