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Article: What's Behind Halloween; Where in the World Our Weird Rituals Originated
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- October 14, 1998
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Halloween, perhaps our weirdest annual celebration, is even
stranger than it seems. Unlike the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving,
it is neither patriotic nor historical, yet it is celebrated
nationally. Unlike Christmas, Easter or Passover, Halloween is not
associated with a particular religion. Yet it weaves spirituality,
death and religious beliefs into our present and historical
imaginations.
Halloween is hugely popular, infused with its own set of
immediately recognizable symbols, rituals and stories. Yet most
Americans have little, if any, sense of the hidden meanings and