As the spooky season creeps even closer to its solstice, my mind is drawn to all ... feature on my radar that's name conjures thoughts of witches, ghosts, and ghouls — but its purpose is not ...

The term 'solstice' derives from the Latin word 'solstitium ... especially in Scandinavian countries, where effigies of witches are also burnt. The flames were thought to keep the dark away ...