The Bell Witch, as depicted by Brent Monahan in his novel, is a fascinating and eerie character. The story is based on real events that took place in Tennessee during the 19th century. The novel combines elements of horror, mystery, and historical fiction to create a chilling tale. The Bell Witch is said to be a spirit that haunted the Bell family in the early 1800s. According to legend, strange occurrences began happening on the Bell property, including strange noises, objects moving on their own, and physical attacks on family members. The haunting escalated over time, with the spirit allegedly tormenting and even killing members of the family.
The haunting escalated over time, with the spirit allegedly tormenting and even killing members of the family. Monahan's portrayal of the Bell Witch is captivating and terrifying. He weaves together historical details and supernatural elements to create a suspenseful narrative.
How to Celebrate Samhain, aka the Witches’ New Year
You probably celebrate Halloween by dressing up in a costume or binge-watching scary movies, but do you know the holiday’s origins? The roots of Halloween can be traced back to Samhain (pronounced SOW-win). Haven’t heard of it? Samhain is an annual celebration that originated with the ancient Celts, who roamed across Britain and France before their occupation by the Roman Empire (which tolled the death bell for a lot of pagan traditions) more than 2,000 years ago.
The Celts celebrated eight “sabbats” throughout the year—festivals that marked turning points in nature’s annual cycle, kind of like cheering in each new season while saying goodbye to the old one. Samhain was held October 31 to November 1, and it represented the start of winter and the end of the harvest year. It was seen as a beginning of darker days, longer nights, and reaping whatever resources had been grown in the year just gone (crops and livestock).
Of course, that wasn’t all. If you’ve seen The Wicker Man, then that’s all I need to say here. There were some pretty dark and disturbing traditions going on related to fire and sacrifice, but we’ll leave that to Ryan Murphy, Jordan Peele, or Ari Aster to cover.
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On a SLIGHTLY less terrifying note, the Celts believed that every Samhain, a deity known as the Lord of the Dead would gather the souls of everyone who had died in the previous year (and had since been living inside various animals…don’t ask) to begin their journey to the Celtic underworld, Tír na nÓg. They thought that an invisible veil separated the worlds of the living and the dead and that at sundown on Samhain, the last day of the year, that veil was it its thinnest. This was a time to make contact with the dead, which they did by lighting bonfires and lanterns to lead lonely or heartsick spirits home to visit with their family and preparing offerings of food and vegetables, which they called a “dumb supper.”
Also known as Autumn Cross-Quarter, Halloween, All Souls’ Night, Dark Moon, and Feast of the Dead, Samhain was also seen as the ending and beginning of the Celtic New Year (which is why some people call it Witches’ New Year!). On this day, especially at dawn and dusk, the veil between the seen world and the unseen world of spirit is particularly thin. And over the past several decades, Samhain has seen a resurgence in popularity as it has been embraced by Wiccans and others who draw from pagan traditions.
Samhain is a time that humans have, for centuries, honored their dead, told fortunes, planned for the year ahead, and celebrated what they have achieved or reaped in the previous year.
Let’s acknowledge the vibe of this old tradition (minus the fire sacrifices…just google it, if you have to), in a modern way, and celebrate Samhain.
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The book is a blend of horror and historical fiction, with Monahan delving into the lives of the Bell family and their interactions with the witch. The author's depiction of the Bell Witch is both sympathetic and malevolent. The spirit is portrayed as a complex character with her own motives and desires. While she is an antagonist in the story, Monahan presents her as more than just a frightening presence. He explores her backstory and attempts to provide some understanding of her actions. Monahan's writing style is engaging and keeps the reader hooked from start to finish. He creates a tense atmosphere and builds suspense throughout the novel. The pacing is perfect, with a combination of slow-burn horror and intense moments of terror. Overall, "The Bell Witch" by Brent Monahan is a captivating and chilling novel. It brings the legend of the Bell Witch to life and explores the mysteries and horror surrounding the haunting. Monahan's storytelling skills and attention to historical detail make this book a must-read for fans of horror and historical fiction alike..
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