Blood-ritual sacrifice, necromancy and the spirits of the dead, divination magic, and true-love’s first kiss marked Samhain (Halloween) festivals around which sacred flames burned a thousand years. Historical detectives at Grim peel back layers exposing the roots of Halloween superstitions that pre-date Christianity including esoteric, lost, and secret practices. Grim reconstructs divination games, communing with magical creatures and the dead, Americanization, and Devil’s Night into modernity in this comprehensive investigatory history of the holiday. Joe Wojie is joined by Britnee Smith, Dustin Cushman, Ted Sisco, Sara McDonell, and Jennifer Murphy. grimphilly.com/podcast