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Oct. 24, 2004 Halloween. My favoritest holiday of the year. A day of family fun, creativity and imaginations. Where I live, we have an Old Fashioned Halloween still. Bigger and better than I remember it to be as a child. We have outlying towns that come to this village. Hundreds and hundreds of imaginations and fun. "Trick or Treat!" In the time that I have been here I have seen some pretty terrific costumes. A dad as a great big ol Fat pumpkin and his young daughter all lit with wands up all dressed in white satin on top his shoulders--The candle that lights the pumpkin. A family of five dressed as playing cards-a full house in clubs. Raggedy Anns Little baby pumpkins the Adam's family and scarey darth vaders and monsters. You name it someone will come by wearing that costume as we have over 450 trick or treaters, little goblins each year. One year we had nearly 800 as we were sheltering a nearby town that had gotten washed out by the rain. It's Fantastic!! and I can hardly wait!!!!! One more week! Although I must say there are a few in this village that don't want to participate in this fun filled holiday. I live in a village where the majority, in the winter, is senior citizens. Now they are trying to ruin it for all nearly 500 of us. Saying they don't like it and can't afford it and don't like the teen agers and the parents getting involved and having pure and innocent fun, fun. Well I can understand about the affording it as I know fokes that are on social security peanuts that they give them. But please, if you don't want to participate, for any reason you feel such as your religious beliefs or of the money that candy costs now a days, turn out the porch light. Don't answer the door. Simple solution. But don't ruin it, take it away from us. I heard today of some disturbing news of a group of witches in the Northwest USA that has banned Halloween in one of the schools there because they find it offensive the way that witches are displayed. Well pardon me here. but when I heard that I went and took me a quick but informative history lesson, and here's the story of a man named brady--no sorry there.. the story of Halloween, and it's origin. Halloween, an annual celebration, but what exactly does it celebrate? How did it originate? Is it demonic worshiping or a harmless vestige of some ancient pagan ritual? Halloween actually originates in the Catholic Church, coming from a contracted corruption of All Hollows Day or All Saints Day- November 1. A day in observance to honor all saints. In 5th century BC in Celtic Ireland is the official last day of summer, being called, Samhain,(saw- en), the Celtic New Year. One story is the disembodied spirits of the dead, would come looking for bodies to live in for the next year... Their only hope of the afterlife. The Celtics believed that all laws of space and time were suspended, during that time allowing the spirit world to intermingle with the living. On Samhain Eve, Oct 31, the living not wanting to be possessed would distinguish all fires as to make it cold and undesirable. Dressing up in ghoulish costumes becoming unruly and noisy in the streets of the village so as to frighten the spirits away. The reason for the distinguishing of the fires was not to discourage the spirit world, rather to relight all fires from one common fire, The Druidic fire which kept burning in the middle of Ireland at Usinach. Some stories say, people thought to be possessed would be burned at the stake as a lesson for the spirits to leave.-- Other stories say that's only a myth. Romans adapted the Celtic practice in 1st Century AD. Samhain was mixed into other Roman traditions, such as the day to honor Pamona, -- the Roman goddess of fruit and trees-- The symbol being the apple... modern day traditions--bobbing for apples. The thrust of the practices, become more ritualized over time. Dressing up like goblins ghosts and witches, were a ceremonial role. Halloween was brought to America, in the 1840's, by Irishmen fleeing the potato famine in Ireland. New England began the pranks of tipping over out houses and unhinging gates. Trick or Treat and the Jack-O-Lantern --- continued on Halloween part two. ------------ About the author Tracey Lin O'Very: I write from my heart as the words are given to me. He lives in our hearts and helps me, through my writings. Although I think that I am writing for others, quite often it is written for me, to help me and get me through the times of my life. Not all are saddened times and some things are really quite fun. The majority of my writings have messages in them of an awareness that needs to be seen and practiced more often in today's times by more of today's people of this modern society. Email: spaceylin@yahoo.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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