Halloween has become a distinctly American holiday, but it wasn't always like this. In fact, the roots of this holiday may be frighteningly closer to home than you might think!

In this episode, Professor Thomas Ruys Smith returns to the podcast for an unscripted chat about the history of Halloween, and why it managed to proliferate so much in America and become the commercial holiday staple we know and love today.

If you enjoy this episode, you might also like:

Why Do Americans Love Halloween?

What is Thanksgiving?

What's the History of Christmas in America?

Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com

Join the community: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.captivate.fm/community

Get the newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.captivate.fm/newsletter

Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com

Want to advertise with us and support the American Studies community?

Email liam@mercurypodcasts.com and let's talk.

Mentioned in this episode:

This episode is sponsored by What's Your Map

What's Your Map is the British Podcast Award-winning show from map expert Professor Jerry Brotton. In each episode, he invites a special guest to share a map that means something to them. It's a fascinating show, and you can listen to the new season right now: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/whats-your-map/id1766500219