Case File No. 026 · printable PDF · 27 pages

The Dark History of Halloween

What Samhain Really Was

A corpse that wanted a drink, the night kings died, turnip faces, and the one real Halloween poisoner.

Why it's worth it

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8 evidence exhibits
Real documents and paintings, shown large, with what to look for in each.

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2 maps drawn for this file
Ireland's Samhain sites, and the famine crossing that carried Halloween to America.

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7 stories the video skipped
Fact-checked details the documentary didn't have room for.

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The original words
Passages from the 1786 and 1889 sources, with plain-English notes.

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Printable postcard replicas
Early-1900s Halloween cards at full size, ready to print and cut out.

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Large-print edition included
Two PDFs, plus every source and image credit listed.

The case in one page, and a timeline from the Coligny calendar to 1974
Exhibits: the Coligny calendar, the Annals of Ulster, Burns's 'Halloween', Snap-Apple Night, Skibbereen 1847, Castle Garden and more
Original words: the Echtra Nerai tale (1889 translation) and Burns's 1786 poem with his own footnotes
Persons of interest: Nera, Keating, Burns, Vallancey, Rhys, Frazer and the Candy Man
Myth vs. record: who invented the 'Lord of the Dead' and the 'Celtic New Year'
The Candy Man, 1974: the one real Halloween poisoner, as a typed case dossier
Visit it today: Tara, Rathcroghan, the Hill of Ward and the Museum of Country Life
Case closed? Our verdict, and every source with links

How do I get it? Right after you pay, your download page opens with both PDFs. Bookmark it: it keeps working for 30 days.

Can I print it? Yes. It's made for US letter paper, and the large-print edition is included.

Is this the same as the video? No. The video tells the story; the file holds the evidence, the replicas and the stories we had no time for.

Something wrong? See refunds: we fix it or give your money back.