Join us on a captivating journey through Halloween’s history and traditions. From its ancient Celtic origins to modern-day festivities, we unveil the evolution of this beloved holiday. Discover the origins of iconic Halloween creatures like vampires, witches, and ghosts, and how they’ve become symbols of the season. Explore the playful traditions, from pumpkin carving to the sweet delight of “trick-or-treating.” Whether you’re a Halloween enthusiast or curious about its fascinating history, this episode offers a quick, informative, and spooktacular look at the tales behind our favourite holiday traditions.
In 1972, when Dr. Jan L. Perkowski (pictured) published a report on the strange happenings in Wilno, Ontario, it made international headlines and forever tied the small Eastern Ontario community to Vampire stories. The town has been eager to shake this reputation – focusing instead on its history as the first Polish settlement in Canada. But the vampire lore endures and any online search or local mention of “Wilno” will quickly come up with endless references to vampires. But, there is so much more to the story. In the episode, we share the lesser-reported eyewitness accounts that Perkowski gathered from the locals. They are terrifying and odd. Blending old-world superstitions and beliefs with modern life.
Want to read Dr. Perkowski’s report for yourself? Download it here from The Canadian Museum of History.
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like:
Episode 104 – Vampire Hunting
We have something intriguing for you. Previously, we’ve presented two episodes where our storytellers joined us to share their extraordinary and eerie experiences while leading tours. These episodes were titled ‘Tales from the Tours Vol. 1 & 2.’ We had plans to release a third volume this October when our good friends at the ‘Geist‘ podcast approached us to collaborate on an episode. We proposed a fresh addition to our ‘Tales from the Tours’ series to round out the trilogy.
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like:
Episode 23 – Tales From the Tours Vol. 1
Episode 113 – Tales From the Tours Vol. 2
The Haunting at Home is a ghostly online audio experience created by the paranormal experts at The Haunted Walk. Turn the lights down low & conduct a series of fun & spooky experiments in your own home. Will you be able to complete them all – in the DARK? What will you discover in the process? Experience a spine-tingling and thought-provoking night of supernatural thrills & chills.
Here is a little sample.
Take part in the experiment: https://hauntedwalk.com/experience/the-haunting-at-home/
Let’s face it, our pets can be creepy. Cats are notorious for fixating on empty corners of a room, while dogs may bark, howl, or cower in response to unseen entities. Our furry companions also seem to possess an uncanny awareness of things beyond our perception. Some even make unexpected returns from beyond the grave. Although we don’t know what Mr. Whiskers or Spot are trying to communicate to the resident ghosts, we can explore some hair-raising and tail-wagging tales about pets and the paranormal.
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like:
Episode 56 – Valentino’s Ghost Dog