Photography by Leeta Harding
Welcome to our annual Halloween issue! It is our pleasure to present these phenomenal stories that will put you in the mood to celebrate the modern version of Samhain, the 2,000-year-old+ pagan ritual—without all the anxiety the pagans experienced. (For instance, their costumes were disguises to keep away evil spirits who might kidnap them forever. Stressful indeed!)
They say we love Halloween now because it allows us to explore what terrifies us, without any dire consequences. We revel in frightening ourselves, through front yards transformed into graveyards, a zombie hanging from a tree over the sidewalk, and ghoulish jack-o’-lanterns glowing orange on porch steps. We show off our wicked costumes at parties, or on Halloween night, walking the crowded streets while leaves fall from the trees.
The night air is crisp. It smells like smoke. Did you just see something out of the corner of your eye?
Before you freak out (was that Jack the Ripper’s great granddaughter on the corner?) let’s take a look at what you’ll come across in the Halloween issue. Lots of traditional themes here. Lots of clever and new ways of presenting those themes. That’s what we love about doing this issue…
Witches
Werewolves
Demons
Spirits
Ectoplasm
The mysterious woods
Halloween…in the snow
A psychiatric unit
An ultra creepy abandoned school
Poisoned candy
Apparitions
A time warp
The modern Bly House
Ancient creatures waiting for their delicious meal…of children
A famous serial killer
Dying in your sleep
And last but not least,
Murder.
Sounds good, right?
Let’s do this.
Happy Halloween, friends! May 2021 be your spookiest Halloween yet.
Elizabeth Varel
Editor in Chief
Halloween 2021 Contributors
Parhelion 