THE WITCHING HOUR
October 1996

To many the spookiest city in the United States, New Orleans makes a bewitching backdrop for its Halloween revelers.



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Its history stretches back to the time of the ancient druids who, believing that Saman, Lord of the dead, brought forth hellish spirits at this time, customarily lit fires to ward off the impending unpleasantness. The march of both time and culture have changed many of the customs associated with Halloween yet the central underlying theme of ghostliness and horror, although softened by the millenia remains with us. Wherever we may be.

Photographs by Mary Ellen Mark
Photo Editor: Fanny Ng



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The Halloween of today seems to move forward on the tail of movie culture rather than tradition. From Disneyesque darlings to the bride of Frankenstein.



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The Mexican Day of the Dead, said to be suffering at the more commercial hands of Halloween, makes its presence felt.



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A monster bash. The roots of Halloween stretch far back through time: but perhaps not quite this far.



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America’s national vegetable gets its ubiquitous, if brief, annual outing.



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Party animal.



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Transcending the generation gap. And it still fits.

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