Halloween evolved from the ancient Celtic holiday of Samhain. Over the centuries, Halloween transitioned from a pagan ritual to a day of parties, costumes, jack-o-lanterns and trick-or-treating for kids and adults.
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Origins of Day of the Dead The roots of the Day of the Dead, celebrated in contemporary Mexico and among those of Mexican heritage in the United States and around the world, go back some 3,000 years, to the rituals honoring the dead in pre‑Columbian Mesoamerica. The Aztecs and other Nahua people living in what […]
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In the 1850s, families began commissioning portraits of their deceased loved ones in a trend that came to be known as “memento mori” photography.
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From biblical depictions of Christ casting out demons, to charismatic Christians in the ’60s, to the story behind the 1973 movie, people have been attempting to expel evil for centuries.
Read more about Exorcisms: The Centuries‑Long History of Expelling Evil
