Throughout its evolution, Halloween has remained a time when the world gets a little … well, weird! For one night, the regular everyday world falls away, and it feels like anything could happen. That sense of possibility – maybe both frightening and exciting! – is central to the theme of transformation around this holiday and its central creatures. Whether it’s the world transforming to winter, the dead transforming back to the living world, the human turning into a wolf, the vampire turning into a bat, or you, yourself, turning into Darth Vader or Wonder Woman or a robot or a cat or anything else you can imagine! The idea of change lives behind so many of the myths, legends, and traditions we associate with Halloween -- and that's what we're exploring in this episode!

This episode's interview features Lisa Longo, the administrative mermaid at Mythik Camps, who has also worked as a guide for ghost tours! Lisa shares some favorite ghost stories and shares why she thinks scary stories are something we enjoy.

If you'd like to submit a story or artwork to be featured on Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!).

[Transcript for Episode 10]

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Stuff to Read:

• More information about werewolves:
  • The Ancient Origins of Werewolves
  • Werewolves in History
  • The Long, Hidden History of the Viking Obsession With Werewolves
• More on vampires:
  • Carnegie Museum's Booseum on Vampires
  • Vampire History
• The history of Halloween:
  • The World History Encyclopedia's History of Halloween
  • A collection of articles about the history of Halloween
  • A timeline of Halloween's development

Stuff to Watch:

• Our YouTube Playlist for Episode 10, which includes more information on werewolves and vampires, some unique ghost stories from across the world, and deeper dives into the history of Halloween!

Cool Images:

An Athenian vase depicting a man in a wolf skin, circa 460 BC:

The "werewolves of Ossory", c. 1200 CE: