The Halloween Tree

by Ray Bradbury

“Lesson Number One about Halloween. Osiris, Son of the Earth and Sky, killed each night by his brother Darkness.

ancient Halloween and the “treats” being set forth not for wandering boys but homeless ghosts.

Trick-or-Treat old style. But tricks from the dead if you don’t feed them. So treats are laid out in fine banquets on the sill!”

“The Druid God of the Dead! Samhain! Fall!”

The Romans cut the Druids, their oaks, their God of the Dead, bang! down! And put in their own gods, eh? Now the Christians run and cut the Romans down! New altars, boys, new incense, new names…”

“Wits,” said Moundshroud. “Intelligence. That’s all it means. Knowledge. So any man, or woman, with half a brain and with inclinations toward learning had his wits about him, eh? And so, anyone too smart, who didn’t watch out, was called—” “A witch!” said everyone.