A little Halloween history

[mistyfeather]

i celabrate it as the celtic new year. i get all of my new years cleaning done just befor halloween. did you know they used to carve turnips , not pumpkins .

 

[ranchhand]

mistyfeather,

I don't celebrate or observe Halloween anymore, but I do like the idea of starting into winter with a clean house! Of course, that will be for naught once we start hauling wood in.

Makes a huge mess.

I did know about the turnips being carved before the switch to pumpkins!

Mahonri, thanks for the information, pretty interesting. I have some firewood way over to one side of the property that the termites have gotten into- I think a bonfire will be great, though a bit late.

 

[FarmerChick]

very interesting info

I liked Halloween for the candy as a kid, still do

and the pranks I used to pull on people....Muuhahaha...

 

[deb1]

Quote:
I think that people can thank both Pagans and Catholics for the fact that we have this holiday. Halloween's history is so wrapped up in both cultures that is is fascinating. It has always amazed me that so many Pagan practices could easily slide into Catholic theology.

Catholics believe that the our loved ones still care for us after death and pray for our welfare(Please no religious debates) Some of the Celtic behaviors fit in beautifully with Catholic beliefs. I have friends who really get freaked out that certain religious symbolism have some Pagan origins. To me, it isn't a big deal. In fact, I find it deeply beautiful and almost mystical that societies can independently come to similar conclusions about life.

Here is another fact. If I am not mistaken, it was the Irish who brought Halloween to America. Go Irish! The Irish rock!!

 

[AhBee01]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_cake

I learned about this, this year after hearing Stings song soul cakes, which he is singing as a Christmas song. I couldn't understand what he was singing, so I looked it up, then had to know what a soul cake was!

Here is the song, scroll to the bottom of the page!

http://www.stingus.net/sting_the_po...rt_copeland_news_comments.php?id=7198_0_2_0_C

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
Well said Deb. The two religions/cultures to have a lot in common and have overlapped each other through the ages. All this stuff is fascinating.

I have Pagan friends and have been to a ceremony or two. They were pretty cool and were all about love and respect of life, our planet, and the universe in general. As a Christian and card carrying Catholic I had no problems with it at all. No witches were burned, no satanic rituals, or anything like the movies and stereotypes portray.

I celebrated Halloween last night by dressing up in my gorilla costume and dancing with some good friends. The bonfire is tonight.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
Nice find. I thought you were talking about Soul Cages at first.

Sting's an amazing musician and all around good guy. If you get the chance to see him live I HIGHLY recommend it.

 

[deb1]

Quote:
This is from the wikipedia article

Soul, Soul, a soul cake!
I pray thee, good missus, a soul cake!
One for Peter, two for Paul,
three for Him what made us all!
Soul Cake, soul cake, please good missus, a soul cake.
An apple, a pear, a plum, or a cherry, anything good thing to make us all merry.
One for Peter, one for Paul, & three for Him who made us all.

 

[AhBee01]

I never heard of that before, I found it so interesting!
I wonder why they referred to it as a Christmas song? I think Peter paul and Mary did something with it too! I will check it out!
seek and you shall find!

http://video.google.com/videosearch...:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=e

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

I used to get really geeked over Halloween - now I hardly even decorate (of course, I have a lot of odd decorations in the hosue year round that would be considered "Halloween stuff" by most people.)

My children are all grown, so no need to do the costumes or trick or treating or party thing.

I guess my Halloween changed when I realized that I sort of live Halloween all year

not the costume thing, but the other stuff.

I revere my ancestors - I don't worship them, but they are a big part of my life. I have drawn a lot of inspiration from their stories and lives while trying to build this farm. I don't just "chat with them" on one day a year however, I chat with them all the time - and no, I don't hear voices

but I do believe I get answers in different ways.

I believe in other spirits, also - some good ones, some bad. I don't need to "get my spook on" cause I'm already there

meri