The story behind Halloween and top Spooky Reads

"Anyone could see that the wind was a special wind this night, and the darkness took on a special feel because it was All Hallows' Eve." Ray Bradbury

Here we are in the spooky season. I am a huge fan of autumn and October. All the mesmerizing and breath-taking colours, the crisp air, the cozy atmosphere, sweaters, nights in, warm blankets, books, and hot chocolate. Amazing, right?

Autumn is the perfect example that shows us that change is beautiful and inevitable. Something we should embrace and not fear.

Something else that is cool about autumn is Halloween, of course.

I was always fascinated by Halloween, even as a child. Although I am not crazy about dressing up and Halloween parties (not this year obviously, Covid and stuff), but just the idea behind it and the whole spooky atmosphere of the month October, the witches, ghosts and all the magic.

Something I wanted to share here with you is the origin and story about Halloween and Jack O' Lantern and of course some of the best spooky reads.

I am sure most of you know something about Halloween and how it all started, but this is the perfect time to share the story and maybe someone will learn something new!

Halloween is a well-known holiday celebrated each year on the 31st of October, one day before All saints Day.

Here is a brief version of the history I found here (if you wish to read more about the story behind Halloween and Jack O'Lantern).

"The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago, mostly in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1.

This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31 they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.

In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort during the long, dark winter."

The Story of Jack O'Lantern

I love carving pumpkins on Halloween. And, I really like the story about "Stingy Jack". Read on if you are interested in where it originated from and who "Stingy Jack" was. Find more here.

"The practice of decorating jack-o'-lanterns originated in Ireland, where large turnips and potatoes served as early canvasses. In fact, the name, jack-o'-lantern, comes from an Irish folktale about a man named Stingy Jack. Irish immigrants brought the tradition to America, home of the pumpkin, and it became an integral part of Halloween festivities.

The practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed “Stingy Jack.” According to the story, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him. True to his name, Stingy Jack didn’t want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drinks. Once the Devil did so, Jack decided to keep the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form.

Jack eventually freed the Devil, under the condition that he would not bother Jack for one year and that, should Jack die, he would not claim his soul. The next year, Jack again tricked the Devil into climbing into a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While he was up in the tree, Jack carved a sign of the cross into the tree’s bark so that the Devil could not come down until the Devil promised Jack not to bother him for ten more years.

Soon after, Jack died. As the legend goes, God would not allow such an unsavory figure into heaven. The Devil, upset by the trick Jack had played on him and keeping his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as “Jack of the Lantern,” and then, simply “Jack O’Lantern.”

I carved my own Jack O'Lantern and have shared the picture on my Instagram, if you want to check it out!

Have you heard the story of "Stingy Jack" before? Did you know that the tradition originated in Ireland?

13 Top Spooky Reads

Now that you know the story behind Halloween and Stingy Jack - what could be better on Halloween than curling up with a good book, a spooky book...

Here are some suggestions for a spooky read. I have read most of the ones below, but some of them are on my TBR list and I can't wait to read them...

Coraline, Neil Gaiman - one of my favourites. creepy and spooky, but you can still sleep at night.
Dracula, Bram Stoker - the story of the most famous Vampire, a classic from an Irish author. This one must be on everyone's spooky read list.
Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson - I really enjoyed this one. A gothic novela about a strange man, alter egos... spooky.
The Guest List, Lucy Foley - you can find my book review here - no spoilers! Set in Ireland, eerie atmosphere, a murder - a win for me!
The Shining, Stephen King - another classic, a horror novel inspired by Stephen King's personal experiences.
Mexican Gothic, Silvia Moreno-Garcia - this one is on my TBR list. Looking forward to reading it.
Tales of Mystery and Madness, Edgar Alan Poe - well, keep your lights on while reading this one. He is definitely the master of the spooky season. What better time than this to discover Poe?
The Haunting of the Hill House, Shirley Jackson - a gothic horror novel. A haunted house in the centre - a perfect Halloween theme, I would say.
Something Wicked This Way Comes, Ray Bradbury - a dark fantasy novel, scary, suspenseful - a yes from me!
IT, Stephen King - well, I will probably never read this one as I am not very fond of clowns, but I think IT deserves a spot on this list. What do you think?
Perfume, The Story of a Murderer, Patrick Süskind - a historical fantasy novel. France, 18th century, a murderer.
Goosebumps and Fear Street collections, R. L. Stine - young adult and children's books (in theory), but I really enjoy reading his scary books as an adult too. If you want something easy to read but still scary, go for the Goosebumps or Fear Street collection.
Pine, Francine Toon - this is also on my TBR list, but the plot sounds just amazing. The Scottish Highlands, a small community, Halloween night and mysterious dissapearance... sounds like a perfect spooky read!