Good news, we're on Spotify. So if you normally get your music or other podcasts through Spotify,

you can add the BHP to your list. Currently, it's a little tricky to find the show because the

algorithm is apparently not that great, but I have a direct link at the British History Podcast.com

that'll take you right there. Or if you decide to search for us on the app, just make sure to scroll

down a bit. We're in there, somewhere. I promise. Alright, let's start the show.

Welcome to the British History Podcast. My name is Jamie and this is the Halloween Special.

I love Halloween. I think it might be my favorite holiday, and it's not because I like spooky things.

Actually, I kind of hate horror films, but the reason why I love Halloween is because in the pantheon

of modern holidays, it really stands out. Most holidays in the Western world have been rebranded

and repackaged to fit a Christian theme or a specific nation. As a consequence, it's traditional

to go to church on Christmas and Easter, even though bunnies and fat men in red suits don't get

a single mention in the Bible. But Halloween is different. There's no awkward attempt to justify

its existence. Halloween is an out-of-the-closet pagan holiday, and it feels pagan. It feels old.

And that's because it is. And I love that. That is, with the exception of one new tradition that I've

been experiencing. Ever since starting this podcast, at around this time of the year, I start to get

emails and tweets from Englishmen about how much they hate Halloween. Specifically, they tell me

that they hate that America is forcing Halloween upon Britain. From the way that they talk,

you get the impression that there's a kibal of Americans, of which I'm apparently a member,

that's deliberately exporting Halloween to England, specifically to annoy the same kind of people

who write negative, yell-per-views about Mika-nose because it doesn't have a Tesco's. And I'll be

honest, I'm tired of getting this email. First of all, because there's no conspiracy of Americans

exporting Halloween. The reason why there's jack-a-lanterns down the street from your off-license shop

...