Potterversity Episode 76: Halloween at Hogwarts

October always feels like the perfect time for a Harry Potter marathon—but why is that?

Katy and Emily are joined by frequent guest Lana Whited to explore Halloween in the series. We look at the Muggle origins and customs surrounding the holiday, including religious elements that connect to the themes of the story.

What does our first Halloween celebration at Hogwarts look like, and how does that set up future Halloweens at the school? Important events occur during Harry's first four Hogwarts Halloweens—a troll gets into the castle, the Chamber of Secrets is opened, Sirius Black attacks the Fat Lady, and the Triwizard champions are selected. Clues tend to be dropped at this time that become significant later on.

While Halloween stops being mentioned after the fourth book, the whole series is full of witches, ghosts, and magic. Is Harry Potter simply Halloween-themed?