PBS series “Monstrum” celebrates monsters and myths all year round, but this Halloween, the series is giving a special spotlight to an enduring symbol of the holiday: the bat.

Catch up on the Halloween history and lore associated with the bat on Halloween Eve; you can stream the episode below.

The show, hosted by Emily Zarka, Ph.D., takes us on a journey to discover a new monster for each new episode. Dr. Zarka looks at humans’ unique drive to create and shape monster mythology through oral storytelling, literature, and film.

As the episode’s synopsis puts it, “Bats have long been symbols of death and darkness. But why? Their rise as Halloween’s spookiest icon traces back to ancient Celtic traditions, revealing how these harmless creatures turned into something far more evil. Join us under the Congress Street Bridge in Austin as we unravel the spooky myths, vampire lore, and Halloween history that turned these sky puppies into creatures of the night!”

Dr. Emily Zarka earned a Doctor of Philosophy in English from Arizona State University, specializing in British Romantic literature with an emphasis on the Gothic. Dr. Zarka approaches literature and film through monsters, applying the theory that human history is monster history. She is the writer and host of the PBS Digital Studios series “Monstrum “, which looks at complex histories and motivations behind some of the world’s most famous monsters. Her teaching experience includes literature, composition, film and media, and humanities classes. Currently, she is on the faculty of the English Department at Arizona State University, teaching undergraduate and graduate classes in composition and literature.

The series that celebrates and examines monsters of all kinds is now in its seventh season. Catch up on recent episodes about The Beast of Gévaudan, creepypastas, ghost whales, and more on the PBS Storied YouTube Channel.