Preface — 7CHAPTER ISun-worship. The sources of Hallowe'en — 9CHAPTER IIThe Celts: their religion and festivals — 13CHAPTER IIISamhain — 23CHAPTER IVPomona — 29CHAPTER VThe coming of Christianity. All Saints'. All Souls — 33CHAPTER VIOrigin and Character of Hallowe'en Omens — 39CHAPTER VIIHallowe'en beliefs and customs in Ireland — 41CHAPTER VIIIIn Scotland and the Hebrides — 61CHAPTER IXIn England and Man — 79CHAPTER XIn Wales — 95CHAPTER XIIn Brittany and France — 101CHAPTER XIIThe Teutonic Religion. Witches — 111CHAPTER XIIIWalpurgis Night — 125CHAPTER XIVMore Hallowtide Beliefs and Customs — 131CHAPTER XVHallowe'en in America — 137Four poems — 155Supplementary List of Readings, Recitations and Plays — 163Post ScriptumThe Book of Halloween gives the reader an account of the origin and history of Halloween and how it absorbed customs belonging to other days in the year, such as May Day, Midsummer, and Christmas.The first book-length history of Halloween The Book of Halloween (1919) gives the reader an account of the origin and history of Halloween and how it absorbed customs belonging to other days in the year, such as May Day, Midsummer, and Christmas. Author Ruth Edna Kelly intensely researched the subject blending history, folklore and mythology. The origins of Halloween are traced back to sun worship, Celtic religion, the Pomona festival and the Christian All Saints Day. Links are given with Teutonic witchcraft and Walpurgis Night. Special Halloween omens are discussed as well as the different ways this holiday was celebrated in Ireland, England and Man, Brittany and France, Scotland and the Hebrides, Wales and America. The time in which she produced this book was a special one in history, as it was in the early twentieth century and the classic picture of the witch as an old ugly hag, underwent a transformation in the midst of the rise of feminism.