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Halloween Origins and the Salem Witch Trials with Professsor Karen Sullivan

Episode 209: Halloween Origins and the Salem Witch Trials with Professsor Karen Sullivan

Norm welcomes back Dr. Karen Sullivan to discuss Halloween's pagan origins, Celtic traditions, and the Salem Witch Trials, exploring the cultural forces behind the hysteria.

Show notes

Norm welcomes back Karen Sullivan, the Irma Brandeis Professor of Romance Literature and Culture at Bard College, to explore the history and traditions of Halloween. They discuss its pagan origins in Ireland, the lore of fairy folk, and the essential Celtic holidays. Professor Sullivan shares insights on the Salem Witch Trials, examining the cultural and historical forces behind the hysteria and its tragic consequences. The conversation touches on writers like Nathaniel Hawthorne and Umberto Eco and their connections to these themes, while also exploring spectral evidence, the social dynamics of the era, and the lasting impact of these events on American history.

Produced by Norm Magnusson, Jennifer Hammoud, and Matty Rosenberg @ radiofreerhinecliff.org

Send comments to comments@radiofreerhinecliff.org

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Karen Sullivan

Karen Sullivan

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