Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween

Trick or Treat is the first book to both examine the origins and history of Halloween and explore in depth its current global popularity. Festivals like the Celtic Samhain and Catholic All Souls’ Day have blended to produce the modern Halloween, which has been reborn in America - but there are also related but independent holidays, especially Mexico’s Day of the Dead.

Lisa Morton explores the explosion in popularity of haunted attractions and the impact of events such as the global economic recession, as well as the effect Halloween has had on popular culture through literary works, films and television series. Trick or Treat takes us on a journey from the spectacular to the macabre, making it a must for anyone who wants to peep behind the mask to see the real past and present of this ever more popular holiday.

‘If you want to know anything at all about the subject, you ought to find it in Trick or Treat…Morton’s interesting account of Hallowe'en is at its best when it comes up to date and there are many entertaining illustrations’ - Susan Hill, The Times

‘Numerous black and white illustrations, references, bibliography and an index supplement Lisa Morton’s engaging and solidly researched text. A History of Halloween documents lots of historical tricks and is a wonderful treat for anyone looking beyond the commercial surface of Halloween.’ - Colin Steele, The Canberra Times