{"product_id":"the-halloween-encyclopedia","title":"The Halloween Encyclopedia","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe concept of Halloween as a holiday and cultural phenomenon worthy of serious study is only a few decades old  and only since the mid1980s have scholars started to accept that Halloweens place in modern society (especially in American society) merits attention beyond horror fiction and childrens books. The first book devoted solely to Halloween was published just over a century ago  and now  Halloween has its own encyclopedia. Major entries include Samhain  the Celtic ancestor of Halloween; witches  a major Christian addition to the mythology of Halloween and one that still generates interest and controversy; skeletons  a universally recognized symbol of death; the Day of the Dead  the Mexican holiday that is often compared to Halloween; the jack-o-lantern  which has its roots in folktales starring the rascally Jack who always manages somehow to beat the Devil; and trick-or-treating  the most loved and misunderstood American Halloween ritual. Hundreds of small entries cover Halloween history and mythology  fortune-telling lore  harvest legends  and 20th century additions to the holidays rituals.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44986887438389,"sku":"ByrdShop_078641524X","price":90.91,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780786415243.jpg?v=1770920271","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-halloween-encyclopedia","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}