It's Always Halloween

Each Friday I share a curated selection of calls from the All Hallows Hotline and letters from the EEEEKmail bag! This week we hear from a listener who annually celebrates Dia de los Muertos, then we field a question about costume appropriation, and acknowledge that there's a difference between Frankenstein and Frankenstein's Monster. We hear from another listener who paints and hides rocks f...

Today we explore the 3000-year history of the Mexican Days of the Dead. How did these customs begin? Did Spanish colonization affect the celebration? Is it different from Halloween? Listen now to learn the answers to these questions and more!  Do you celebrate the Days of the Dead? We want to hear about it! Share your memories and experiences with us by calling into the All Hallows Hotline at...

Each Friday I share a curated selection of calls from the All Hallows Hotline and letters from the EEEEKmail bag! This week we ponder what to call Halloween Eve, how to stay safe yet spooky this weekend, and how to beat the Halloween Hangover. We also hear some memories about Trick-or-Treating, pranks, ghosts, and food. We get some more movie recommendations and responses to past callers. Plus let...

Gather round,  it's scary story time! Today I'll read you three bone-chilling tales connected by one grisly historical event.  What are your favorite scary stories? Call the All Hallows Hotline at 802-532-DEAD or write me an eeeekmail at itsalwayshalloweenpodcast@gmail.com and let me know! Subscribe on Patreon Follow on Instagram  Sources: The Green Ribbon by Alvin Schwartz   T...

Each Friday I share a curated selection of calls from the All Hallows Hotline and letters from the EEEEKmail bag! This week we hear a compelling argument for Trunk-or-Treat, and dive into Halloween foods, playlists, and filmstrips. We also get a thought-provoking call about Trick-or-Treat age limits, a fascinating story about the outlaw Elmer McCurdy, and a bone-chilling letter all the way from&nb...

Where does the phrase Trick-or-Treat come from and how did this custom get started? In this episode, we take a whirlwind journey from the middle ages to the present day as we learn about the various forms of our most beloved Halloween tradition.  Sources: All Souls Day Guisers Halloween in Scotland History of Halloween How Trick-or-Treating Became a Halloween Tradition Albertans May Have Been...

Each Friday I share a curated selection of calls from the All Hallows Hotline and letters from the EEEEKmail bag! This week we'll explore why fear can be so thrilling, hear about a ghost who helps with furniture issues, enjoy a Mischief Night memory, take a couple of movie recommendations, tackle a question about incorporating our pandemic masks into our costumes, and get invited to a trivia night...

Victorians worked hard to separate Halloween from its Irish roots, and in doing so, transformed it into an oddly romantic holiday. In this episode, we'll look at the types of parties, pranks, and games that defined Halloween in the late 19th century. Sources: Halloween in Victorian America by Lesley Bannatyne 19th Century Halloween Party by Kristin Holt The Romance of Halloween in T...

Each Friday I share a curated selection of calls from the All Hallows Hotline and letters from the EEEEKmail bag! This week we'll hear Trick-or-Treat memories, a book recommendation from New Orleans, a question about costume etiquette, a letter in response to a caller from our 3rd episode , an eerie urban legend rooted in a disturbing truth, and a few more non-scary Halloween movie recommendations...

In this episode, we discover the roots of Halloween in America and the ways it appeared in the colonies even before Irish immigrants. Listen now to discover how apple peels, egg yolks, and mistletoe figure in.  I’m dying to hear your Halloween memories and questions! What do you love about the season? Need some spooky advice? Call the All Hallows Hotline: 802-532-DEAD or write to itsalwayshal...

Each Friday I share a curated selection of calls from the All Hallows Hotline and letters from the EEEEKmail bag! This week we hear a story about how to haunt your neighbors (in a cute way). Then I answer questions about how to have Halloween fun during a pandemic, and whether there are any good couple costumes for dogs. Plus we got two letters about The Halloween Tree cartoon this week! One...

Many countries and cultures don't celebrate Halloween, but they do have their own incredible festivals honoring the dead. In this episode, we discover some of those fascinating Halloween-adjacent traditions. It's a fun reminder that no matter where we come from, we all want to remember and honor our ancestors. I’m dying to hear your Halloween memories and questions! What do you love about the...

Each Friday I share a curated selection of calls from the All Hallows Hotline and letters from the EEEEKmail bag!  This week we tackle a question about Halloween in Japan, explore some real-life haunted landmarks, and read a letter all the way from the birthplace of Halloween - IRELAND!!  Do you have a Halloween query or memory you want to share? Call into the All Hallows Hotline at (802...

In this episode, we explore three Roman festivals honoring the dead and learn why beans used to be the spookiest food! I’m dying to hear your Halloween memories and questions! What do you love about the season? Need some spooky advice? Call the All Hallows Hotline: 802-532-DEAD or write to itsalwayshalloweenpodcast@gmail.com You may be featured in an upcoming episode! Sources: Encyclopedia Britann...

Welcome to the first Small Frights Friday episode! Each week, I will share a curated selection of calls from the All Hallows Hotline and letters from the EEEEKmail bag,  This week we'll hear a story about Beggar's Night in the 1950s and a spooky tale about hayrides after closing time. We also tackle a few Halloween questions about nostalgia, razor blades in apples, Trunk-r-Treat, and whether...

We now know that Halloween comes from the ancient Celtic celebration Samhain. In this episode, we explore some of the monsters of Samhain including Julius Caesar, or as I like to call him, the Grinch That (almost) Stole Halloween! I’m dying to hear your Halloween memories and questions! What do you love about the season? Need some spooky advice? Call the All Hallows Hotline: 802-532-DEAD or write...

Introducing It’s Always Halloween! This year ‘round podcast will dive deep into the dark history of our favorite horror-filled holiday. Each week we’ll explore a specific custom, fear, or fright while celebrating everything that makes being scared so fun! But where, when, and how did Halloween even start? On the first episode we throw on a little Glenn Danzig and travel way back to 2nd century to...

A preview of a spooky new podcast from Lucé Tomlin-Brenner