It's Halloween Everywhere!

Halloween, with its roots dating back over 2,000 years, is a captivating blend of ancient Celtic and Christian traditions. Its origins can be traced to the Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. The Celts believed that on the night of October 31st, the boundary between the living and the dead blurred, allowing spirits to roam the Earth. To ward off these malevolent entities, people lit bonfires and donned costumes.

With the Christianization of Europe, Samhain merged with All Saints' Day, creating All Hallows' Eve, and eventually, Halloween. Irish immigrants brought these traditions to America in the 19th century, where it evolved into the modern celebration we know today. It has since spread internationally, with countries like Canada, the UK, and Australia adopting Halloween customs.

Interestingly, Halloween coincides with National Caramel Apple Day, a delightful confluence of traditions. Caramel apples are a popular Halloween treat, adding a sweet twist to this ancient holiday's festivities, and they've become a symbol of Halloween worldwide.

In Basel, Switzerland, Halloween is increasingly celebrated, blending Swiss precision with spooky fun. People decorate homes, businesses, and streets with carved pumpkins, cobwebs, and eerie displays. Costume parties, trick-or-treating, and themed events have become common, creating a delightful fusion of Swiss tradition and Halloween spirit in this picturesque city.

Tonight's musical theme was spooky tracks for Halloween and National Caramel Apple Day (US) featuring these tracks:

Lydia Lynch - "Spooky"

Outkast - "Dracula's Wedding"

The Specials - "Ghost Town"

Bobby Pickett - "Monster Mash"

The 1975 - "Chocolate"

The Undertones - "More Songs About Chocolate and Girls"

Queens Of The Stone Age - "Burn The Witch"

Kate Nash - "Pumpkin Soup"

Jesus & Mary Chain - "Some Candy Talking"

Two Door Cinema - "Costume Party"