Lecturer Liz Hannan Kading of the Irish Coastal Club returns to the Westerly Library, this time to delve into the Irish ancestry of one of America’s most popular holidays, Hallowe’en. In this talk, Liz will explore Hallowe’en’s origins deep within the mysterious harvest rituals of ancient Ireland, the transformation of Hallowe’en from pagan festival to Christian holy day in the Middle Ages, and the mischievous and beguiling Hallowe’en customs carried across the sea by Irish immigrants escaping the Great Hunger in the 19th century. We’ll learn about haunting practices that originated in Ireland but remain essential to our observance of Hallowe’en in the present day, demonstrating the enduring influence of Irish history and culture on our modern celebration of Hallowe’en.

About the presenter:

Pawcatuck resident Liz Hannan Kading teaches about maritime culture as a faculty member in the Maritime Studies Dept. at UConn-Avery Point. She is one of the founding members of the Dirty Blue Shirts, a living history collective whose members present history programming throughout New England and beyond. As an active member of Westerly’s Irish Coastal Club (ICC), Liz offers public lectures on topics in Irish history, language, and culture, and she is one of the leaders of the ICC’s Irish language learning community.