The Haunted History of Halloween Directed by Tom Jennings, Joshua Alper, Scott Paddor, Richard Ross, & Jim Lindsay

Every October 31, pint-sized ghouls and goblins wander through neighborhoods knocking on doors and asking for treats . . . little do they know they’re actually carrying out an ancient tradition dating back thousands of years.

Join Harry Smith of CBS’s “The Early Show” as he leads this 3,000-year expedition through the history of the characteristically pagan holiday of Halloween. Discover how the “trick-or-treat” custom originated during the harvest festivals in ancient Ireland when food and sweets were used to coax the dead into remaining in the spirit world. Learn how Christianity tried to co-opt the celebration by turning it into All Saints Day, but how the underlying – and sometimes controversial – dark elements of the holiday have survived.

THE HAUNTED HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN takes a captivating journey through the mysterious tales behind the spookiest night of the year.