From pumpkin carving to giant skeletons looming on front yards, and witches on broomsticks with their trusty black cats, Halloween is full of frightful folklore that the anthropology department at Camosun College can help unmask.
"A lot of the Halloween symbolism that we know today preserves the folklore and superstitions of the original Celtic festival of Samhain," says anthropology instructor Nicole Kilburn. "Applying an anthropological lens can help us better understand the beliefs of our ancestors and how their traditions have eerily evolved."
Many of the ghoulish icons that decorate lawns and doorsteps have roots buried deep in European soil - holding secrets that might otherwise be left unburied.
"Giant skeletons are growing in popularity," notes forensic anthropology instructor Dr. Katie Waterhouse. "As anthropologists, we love to explore the fascination with representations of the undead - like vampires, zombies and skeletons - and may give us the chance to confront our own skeletons in the closet."
The North American tradition of carving pumpkins also has European origins, where people once carved lanterns out of root vegetables such as turnips to ward off spirits. Other familiar symbols - like witches - reflect misogyny within a male-dominated priesthood, while cats were believed to provide blood or whiskers for spells. The idea of the undead arose when graves were reopened during plagues that haunted Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Halloween may be spooktacular fun, but both instructors hope their insights will bewitch students into exploring the anthropology behind the holiday and maybe even raise a few new questions from the dead of history.
