The Pale Raven Official

Throughout October I will be sharing a daily post that highlights the real history of Halloween/Samhain. These will correlate with my short videos I am posting across my social media accounts. You can follow me on  Youtube,   Instagram , and  Facebook  to view them!  The Sinister Sweetness of Halloween Apples: From Romance to Razor Blades Before cellophane-wrapped candy bars became the undisputed kings of the trick-or-treat bag, the humble apple held a curious, often perplexing, reign over Halloween. Its history with the holiday is a winding path from ancient fertility rites to a symbol of modern parental paranoia, embodying both wholesome tradition and chilling urban legend. The apple's journey through Halloween's lore is a fascinating glimpse into how cultural fears and customs evolve, transforming a simple fruit into a repository of our deepest anxieties. The apple's initial connection to this autumnal celebration is rooted in ancient traditions. It entwined ...

  Throughout October I will be sharing a daily post that highlights the real history of Halloween/Samhain. These will correlate with my short videos I am posting across my social media accounts. You can follow me on  Youtube,   Instagram , and  Facebook  to view them!  Where Did Trick-or-Treating Actually Come From? The modern tradition of trick-or-treating has a history that goes back a long way, mixing together different old customs from Europe. It's not just a holiday invented for selling candy; it’s a direct result of several cultural practices coming together in America. One of the main starting points is the medieval European custom called "souling." This happened on All Hallows' Eve, and it involved poor people, and eventually children, going to different houses. They would offer to say a prayer for the family's dead in exchange for a small, sweet bread known as a "soul cake." Another similar tradition came from Scotland and Ireland, called ...

  Throughout October I will be sharing a daily post that highlights the real history of Halloween/Samhain. These will correlate with my short videos I am posting across my social media accounts. You can follow me on Youtube, Instagram , and Facebook to view them!  The Eerie Irish Origins of the Jack-O'-Lantern The tradition of the Jack-O'-Lantern is far older than the modern American pumpkin patch and is rooted deeply in Irish folklore. The grimacing glow of the carved squash actually stems from the legend of Stingy Jack , a notoriously deceitful and wicked man who successfully tricked the Devil on multiple occasions. According When Jack finally died, his sin-filled life barred him from Heaven, and a furious Devil, keeping his promise never to claim Jack's soul, refused him entry into Hell. Cast out to wander the dark Earth for eternity, the Devil gave Jack only a single glowing ember from the fires of Hell to light his way. The Turnip, Not the Pumpkin The original "...