Happy Samhain!

Repost from a previous year.

Back before Halloween became a sugar induced candy grab populated by polyester wearing little goblins, it was known as Samhain (pronounced SOW-in).  Since there are soooo many misconceptions about Halloween (Satan, Devil worshiping, etc), I thought I'd share some information with all my readers.

Samhain, means "End of Summer", and is the third and final Harvest. The dark winter part of the year commences on this day. The Celts divided the year into four quarters: Samhain (winter), Imbolc (spring), Beltane (summer), and Lughnasadh (autumn). The Celtic year began in November, with Samhain. The Celts were influenced principally by the lunar and stellar cycles which governed the agricultural year - beginning and ending in autumn when the crops have been harvested and the soil is prepared for the winter.

It is generally celebrated on October 31st, but some traditions prefer November 1st. It is one of the two "spirit-nights" each year, the other being Beltane (May 1).

Originally the "Feast of the Dead" was celebrated in Celtic countries by leaving food offerings on altars and doorsteps for the "wandering dead". Today a lot of practitioners still carry out that tradition. Single candles were lit and left in a window to help guide the spirits of ancestors and loved ones home. Extra chairs were set to the table and around the hearth for the unseen guest. Apples were buried along roadsides and paths for spirits who were lost or had no descendants to provide for them. Turnips were hollowed out and carved to look like protective spirits, for this was a night of magic and chaos. This has evolved into today's practice of carving Jack O'Lanterns. The Wee Folke became very active, pulling pranks on unsuspecting humans. Traveling after dark was was not advised. People dressed in white (like ghosts), wore disguises made of straw, or dressed as the opposite gender in order to fool the Nature spirits.

When the Romans made contact with the Celts, they added their feast of the dead to Samhain. The Christians subverted the recognition of Samhain to honor the saints, as All Saint's Day on November 1st and named October 31 as All Hallow's Eve. This latter became a secular holiday by the name of Hallowe'en. Although using different nomenclatures, all of these festivals and feasts are celebrating the accessibility, veneration, awe, and respect of the dead, not Satan.  And now you know.

Our community had trick or treating this past Saturday (why can't they just let kids get sugared up on a school night?). Here are some photos:

Don't think I'm not wearing a costume. I'm a Muggle!

The best Harry Potter ever:

James Bond is a Muggle too!

James Bond couldn't resist trying to take a bite:

I wish you all a happy and safe Halloween!

Happy Samhain!

Back before Halloween became a sugar induced candy grab populated by polyester wearing little goblins, it was known as Samhain (pronounced SOW-in).  Being that I homeschool Indy, and he's curious about pretty much everything, we spent a few days learning about the origins of Halloween.  Since there are soooo many misconceptions about Halloween (Satan, Devil worshiping, etc), I thought I'd share some information with all  my readers.

Samhain, means "End of Summer", and is the third and final Harvest. The dark winter part of the year commences on this day.  The Celts divided the year into four quarters: Samhain (winter), Imbolc (spring), Beltane (summer), and Lughnasadh (autumn). The Celtic year began in November, with Samhain. The Celts were influenced principally by the lunar and stellar cycles which governed the agricultural year - beginning and ending in autumn when the crops have been harvested and the soil is prepared for the winter.

It is generally celebrated on October 31st, but some traditions prefer November 1st. It is one of the two "spirit-nights" each year, the other being Beltane (May 1). 

Originally the "Feast of the Dead" was celebrated in Celtic countries by leaving food offerings on altars and doorsteps for the "wandering dead". Today a lot of practitioners still carry out that tradition. Single candles were lit and left in a window to help guide the spirits of ancestors and loved ones home. Extra chairs were set to the table and around the hearth for the unseen guest. Apples were buried along roadsides and paths for spirits who were lost or had no descendants to provide for them. Turnips were hollowed out and carved to look like protective spirits, for this was a night of magic and chaos. This has evolved into today's practice of carving Jack O'Lanterns.  The Wee Folke became very active, pulling pranks on unsuspecting humans. Traveling after dark was was not advised. People dressed in white (like ghosts), wore disguises made of straw, or dressed as the opposite gender in order to fool the Nature spirits.

This was the time that the cattle and other livestock were slaughtered for eating in the ensuing winter months. Any crops still in the field on Samhain were considered taboo, and left as offerings to the Nature spirits. Bonfires were built, (originally called bone-fires, for after feasting, the bones were thrown in the fire as offerings for healthy and plentiful livestock in the New Year) and stones were marked with peoples names. Then they were thrown into the fire, to be retrieved in the morning. The condition of the retrieved stone foretold of that person's fortune in the coming year. Hearth fires were also lit from the village bonfire to ensure unity, and the ashes were spread over the harvested fields to protect and bless the land. 

When the Romans made contact with the Celts, they added their feast of the dead to Samhain. The Christians subverted the recognition of Samhain to honor the saints, as All Saint's Day on November 1st and named October 31 as All Hallow's Eve. This latter became a secular holiday by the name of Hallowe'en. Although using different nomenclatures, all of these festivals and feasts are celebrating the accessibility, veneration, awe, and respect of the dead


I wish you all a happy and safe Halloween!

Halloween wreath: Nevermore!

A few weeks ago, I saw the most amazing (and inexpensive) wreath over on Katydid and Kid and HAD to make one.  HAD. TO. MAKE. ONE.  I had 4 ravens that I bought last year after Halloween and knew when I saw this project that one of them would be perfect for it.  She posted a really good tutorial, so I won't get into it.  If you want to know how to do it, click her link.
It didn't take that long and was really easy!  I couldn't find as big a wreath form as I wanted, so it's a bit on the small side, but I still love it.   What do you think????

Spooky, huh?

Halloween and Pics of the apartment (part 1)

I hope you all had a lovely Halloween and for those of you that celebrate it, a Blessed Samhain. Indy dressed up as.....Indiana Jones. Are you surprised?



This is a group of our neighbors. Like the Fraulein? Lovely, isn't she? And so.....buxom.


We had a great time. Children are not allowed in the stairwells, so people handing out candy sit outside in front of the stairwells. It's like a big party. People barbecue and have all sorts of activities. One quad had a Halloween movie projected onto the side of the building and another had turned their gazebo into a very scary haunted house like thing that the kids had to go into to get candy. Spooky! One of the stairwells was even passing out cups of Gluwein to the grown ups. This is a warm mulled wine and perfect for a chilly, drizzly night.



This morning I went outside and took some photos of the new digs. This is our building. See the windows on the 3rd floor to the right? That's our apartment.



Let's get closer. This is the front door. We have a back door too. We park behind the building.


Oh, look! Who could have made this lovely fall display? ;)


So, up the stairs we go. First floor. Second floor. Buns of Steel! Third floor! Here we are. Welcome! This is our entry way.

Into the living/dining room. It's a large room. Rather messy right now though. I'll post a new pic when I've made it all pretty with my stuff. That furniture is gov't issue. It is NOT pretty, but I'm thankful for it as it is far better than sitting on the floor for 2 months.


The kitchen is just to the right. It's big and chockablock full of cabinets. The cabinets directly above and below the counter open to the other side as well. Handy for setting the table.

Here's the other side. It's all very....beige.


If we go to the dining room window, we have a lovely view of the quad.


There's more to see, but I'll save that for another day.