TT #13: Halloween

Thirteen facts about Halloween The name Halloween comes from The Eve of All Hallows --> All Hallows Even --> Hallowe'en. Witches call this holiday Samhain (say SAH~win). October 31 is the eve of Samhain (Halloween), November 1 the day of Samhain. The holidays of the Celts start at the evening and last the following day. Samhain is the pagan New Year's Day. The wheel of the year starts a new round. At this time the veil between world of the living and the world of the dead is very thin. We use this to honour our ancestors, our beloved dead. They could return to visit us, to help or give advice. There is no need to be afraid of the spirits of the dead. In ancient times, people set light in hollowed-out turnips to guide the spirits of the dead, and put out food as an offering. The lights have become the jack-o'-lanterns carved in pumpkins. Trick-or-treat candy comes from the food offering. The spirits of the dead turned into the ghosts, skeletons and scary monsters in the decorations and costumes. It is an excellent night for divination (tarot, runes, pendulum, etc.). At Samhain we call the Goddess the Crone. She is the Old One, the aspect of the Goddess that teaches us wisdom, that helps us let go when we need to change and grow. Letting go is a natural but difficult part of life. We invoke the Horned God, the stag whose antlers are fully developed. He represents the animals that give away their life so others can be fed. He reminds us that our lives are gifts given to us by other living beings. All food is a gift of life. When Persephone lived in the underworld she ate pomegranate. After eating this fruit she understood that the dark, far from being the place of death and endings, was instead rich with change and hope. Embrace dark and light, we need both to be in balance. used sources: "Circle Round" by Starhawk / Diane Baker / Anne Hill "Halloween" by Silver Ravenwolf ~*~*~*~ Links to other Thursday Thirteens! ~*~ Tracie ~*~ crayonsetc ~*~ Chelle Y. ~*~ Gattina ~*~ Mysterious Lady ~*~ Nathalie ~*~ The Mistress of The Dark ~*~ Caylynn ~*~ Katia ~*~ Carmen ~*~ Ghost ~*~ ali ~*~ Chaotic Mom ~*~ Jane ~*~ Hails ~*~ Darla ~*~ Eagle Lover ~*~ Judy Callarman ~*~ The Imperfect Christian ~*~ ren.kat ~*~ Cheysuli ~*~ le laquet ~*~ Uisce ~*~ tiggerprr ~*~ peppylady ~*~ Annie ~*~ Kukka-Maria ~*~ Melissa ~*~ Tammy ~*~ Haley-O ~*~ BecK ~*~ sam ~*~ K T cat ~*~ Di ~*~ Sparky ~*~ L.L.Barkat ~*~ crse ~*~ Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants