Trick or Treat

''There is magic in the night when pumpkins glow by moonlight.''

This book is a real treat and I don't intend to trick you at all. Okay, excuse my lamentable attempt to make an intended pun and let us turn attention to this little treasure. Lisa Morton offers so many information as we look upon the mutiple views on the origin of the best holiday in the world, Halloween.

We learn the day's relation to the various festivities before the times of Christianity, and the ways people adopted it once the new religion dominated over the old one. We come to know all the superstitions and customs associated to the celebration, how it spread over the United States and the reasons why its popularity waxes and wanes in other parts of the world. We read about Día de Muertos, the Day of the Dead in Mexico and the way Halloween has been influencing popular culture from Robert Burns, Scotland's favourite poet, to the absolute king of Halloween, the genius that answers to the name Tim Burton.

It is an excellent book, written in beautiful language, perfect for those who adore Halloween and for those who wish to learn more about one of the most fascinating and haunting (literally or figuratively) nights of the year.