Boo!
Welcome back friends and fellow knowledge seekers... Today is Halloween... the time of the year where people spend WAYYYY TOO MUCH MONEY on just ONE day of the year... My personal opinion is that if I want candy, I'll go buy some... same for my kids. Now I'm not trying to be a pessimist or negative Nancy this year... however I only really wish to inform people of what they might not know about the TRUE meaning of this holiday, so let's take an adventure down the rabbit hole, Alice...
So basically the Halloween traditions that we now know and practice as Americans is an amalgamation of different cultural traditions. The pagan (and NO, this is NOT the same as Satan worshipers!!) festival known as Samhain (pronounced SOW-in) means "End of summer" and is the the start of the dark half of the year.
It is one of the two "spirit nights" of each year the other being Beltane (see above picture of the pagan calendar). Also note that these two nights are 6 months apart and separate the light part of the year from the dark part of the year equally.
Samhain is a magical interval when the laws of time and space are temporarily suspended and the thin veil between the worlds is lifted. Communicating with ancestors and departed loved ones is easy at this time, for they journey through this world on their way to the Summerlands. It is a time to study the dark mysteries and give thanks to the god and goddess.
Originally the "Feast of the Dead" was celebrated in Celtic countries by leaving food offerings on altars and doorsteps for the wandering dead. Now we give treats out to appease the wandering dead in the same manner. Special attention was paid to providing for the good spirits and carving of turnips and pumpkins a.k.a. jack-o-lanterns (that were made to look like protective spirits) to drive away the not so good spirits, the ones who created mischief and trouble, pulling pranks on unsuspecting humans which led to the "trick or treat". People who traveled after dark dressed in white (like a ghost), wore disguises and sometimes dressed as the opposite gender in order to fool the spirits.
This was the time of year that livestock was slaughtered for storing to eat later on in the cold upcoming winter months. Any crops left in the field not previously harvested were seen as taboo and were left in the fields for the nature spirits. Bonfires were built, sometimes with the bones of the slaughtered animals, whose ashes were then spread over the harvested fields to protect and bless the land. The bonfire was a time of unity and the start of the Celtic New Year.
There are many different names including All Hallows eve for this holiday.
I could go on more, but I just want you all to be safe, don't eat too much junk food, take care of your children, teach them that this time of year is about family and unity, NOT mainstream zombie consumerism, candy, and sugar highs.
This has been the Quiet Mouse. Happy Halloween.
Peace. Love. Respect. Truth.
Here are some funny costume pics for your viewing pleasure... laugh away... I sure did...
Welcome back friends and fellow knowledge seekers... Today is Halloween... the time of the year where people spend WAYYYY TOO MUCH MONEY on just ONE day of the year... My personal opinion is that if I want candy, I'll go buy some... same for my kids. Now I'm not trying to be a pessimist or negative Nancy this year... however I only really wish to inform people of what they might not know about the TRUE meaning of this holiday, so let's take an adventure down the rabbit hole, Alice...
So basically the Halloween traditions that we now know and practice as Americans is an amalgamation of different cultural traditions. The pagan (and NO, this is NOT the same as Satan worshipers!!) festival known as Samhain (pronounced SOW-in) means "End of summer" and is the the start of the dark half of the year.
It is one of the two "spirit nights" of each year the other being Beltane (see above picture of the pagan calendar). Also note that these two nights are 6 months apart and separate the light part of the year from the dark part of the year equally.
Samhain is a magical interval when the laws of time and space are temporarily suspended and the thin veil between the worlds is lifted. Communicating with ancestors and departed loved ones is easy at this time, for they journey through this world on their way to the Summerlands. It is a time to study the dark mysteries and give thanks to the god and goddess.
Originally the "Feast of the Dead" was celebrated in Celtic countries by leaving food offerings on altars and doorsteps for the wandering dead. Now we give treats out to appease the wandering dead in the same manner. Special attention was paid to providing for the good spirits and carving of turnips and pumpkins a.k.a. jack-o-lanterns (that were made to look like protective spirits) to drive away the not so good spirits, the ones who created mischief and trouble, pulling pranks on unsuspecting humans which led to the "trick or treat". People who traveled after dark dressed in white (like a ghost), wore disguises and sometimes dressed as the opposite gender in order to fool the spirits.
This was the time of year that livestock was slaughtered for storing to eat later on in the cold upcoming winter months. Any crops left in the field not previously harvested were seen as taboo and were left in the fields for the nature spirits. Bonfires were built, sometimes with the bones of the slaughtered animals, whose ashes were then spread over the harvested fields to protect and bless the land. The bonfire was a time of unity and the start of the Celtic New Year.
There are many different names including All Hallows eve for this holiday.
I could go on more, but I just want you all to be safe, don't eat too much junk food, take care of your children, teach them that this time of year is about family and unity, NOT mainstream zombie consumerism, candy, and sugar highs.
This has been the Quiet Mouse. Happy Halloween.
Peace. Love. Respect. Truth.
Here are some funny costume pics for your viewing pleasure... laugh away... I sure did...
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