Ritual returns

This chapter examines the intersection of commemoration and commodification in UK Halloween festivals, tracing their evolution from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain to modern-day events shaped by commercial imperatives and cultural memory. Drawing on two case studies – Derry Halloween in Northern Ireland and Paisley Halloween Festival in Scotland – it explores how death, folklore and the supernatural are repackaged as public spectacle and tourist economy. While these events invoke authentic heritage symbols, they simultaneously participate in global consumer culture, blurring the lines between sacred ritual and market-driven entertainment. Situating these developments within the broader frameworks of dark event tourism, occulture and heritage commodification, this chapter offers a critical lens on how seasonal festivals function as both acts of remembrance and engines of economic growth.