Episode 6: Terror, Trauma, Tantrums: Reflections on Halloween Past and Present

For Heidi Klum, and many more people besides, Halloween is ‘the’ fancy dress event of the year. Since the 1950s, the opportunity to wear bold and brash, creative and creepy costumes on 31 October has inspired fun, provoked fear and caused the young and young-at-heart to get creative with cloth, PVC and the glue gun. Originating in the Celtic festival of Samhain, Halloween remains a liminal event today, and provides a rare moment for people to express more of their character.

For this very special of dressing up days, and in response to listener feedback, Lucy and Ben open up about their own costume experiences and reflect on Halloween terrors and triumphs. From a lacklustre train driver’s suit to body gouging metal armour, personal memories are used to tell a global story about the enduring appeal of All Hallows’ Eve. 

Links:

• David J. Skal, Death Makes A Holiday: A Cultural History of Halloween (Bloomsbury, 2002)
• Phyllis Galembo, Dressed For Thrills: 100 Years of Halloween Costumes and Masquerade (Abrams, 2002)
• Slideshow of Heidi Klum’s Halloween costumes: https://people.com/style/heidi-klum-halloween-party-costumes/

Social media

@mslucyclayton @benjamin__wild @heidiklum @phyllisgalembo