WINSTON WEEKLY^[1]

October 27, 2024

Vol. 2, No. 43

BATS AND BROOMS[2]

Halloween’s origins come from the most significant of four ancient Celtic fire festivals, the festival of Samhain celebrated from October 31 to November 1. Marking the end of harvest and the beginning of winter, ancient Celtics associated winter with death. Believing that bonfires removed the barriers between the physical world and the spiritual world, Celtic villagers disguised themselves in animal skins to ward off phantom spirits and honor the dead. As the fires grew, they attracted insects, in turn attracting bats.

How witches on brooms became associated with Halloween is unclear, although Samhaim is a Wiccan holiday observed from sunset on October 31 to sunset on November 1. Wicca was first given a name in Gerald Gardner’s controversial 1954 book, Witchcraft Today. Wiccans honor nature’s elements such as earth, fire, and water. All Wiccans are technically pagan, but not all Wiccans are witches. Confused? You are not alone.  

Despite scary stories and creatures associated with Halloween, there are lighthearted books about bats, brooms, and witches. Options for ages 3-7 include The Little Bat Who Loved Halloween by Stephanie O’Connor and By the Light of the Halloween Moon by Caroline Stutson. A wonderful children’s book not specifically associated with Halloween but perfect for this time of year is Sophie’s Squash by Pat Zietlow Miller. Sangu Madonna’s book, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is not specific to Halloween but is a good choice for adults.

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITY

Ask a child, student, niece or nephew whether they believe Halloween is scary, fun, or both. Do they associate a specific animal or object with Halloween? How do they imagine witches and flying brooms? If age-appropriate, encourage the person you speak with to write a short story or poem about how they think about Halloween.

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[1] Copyright October 27, 2024. Winston Weekly is a weekly newsletter and blog by Alysen Bayles available at www.baylesconnect.com or by e-mail at baylesconnect@gmail.com. Please feel free to share with the appropriate attribute.

[2] Resources: Tara Thompson, Signs of the Season, www.sycamorelandtrust.org; How Cats, Bats, Rats and More Became Halloween Animals, www.nationalgeographic.com; Braele Hardt, Why Are Bats, Owls, Toads, and Crows Associated with Halloween?, Oct. 17, 2022, www.blog.nwf.org; Enora Boivin, Beware of Bats, July 9, 2018, https://museumofwitchcraftandmagic.com.