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Thursday, October 26, 2006

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

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Links to other Thursday Thirteens!


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!

34 comments:

  1. A very interesting list. Lots of stuff that I didn't know.

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. Interesting List. Happy Halloween

    Happy TT!

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  3. Interesting explanation ! I have heard another one and written it in my gattinamycats blog, because I have a black cat and they are supposed to bring bad luck (I haven't noticed that yet )

    What do you think about swapping your partner with a cat ? Happy T13 !

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  4. Wow, I didn't know even half of that! Interesting.

    Happy TT!

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  5. Great list again Tink, I'm still thinking on what my TT should be about :)
    Happy TT!

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  6. That's a very interesting 13. I knew a few of the things you posted but not all!

    Happy Halloween and TT!

    My list is up now.

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  7. Interesting list - thanks for the information. :) I always love learning about different customs and traditions.

    Happy TT. :)

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  8. *chortle* Great minds think alike indeed! :) Thanks for dropping by!

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  9. i feel so educated now. thank you!

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  10. so interesting! so much stuff i didn't know...read that as almost all!

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  11. It IS always interesting to read the history of holidays. Very interesting.

    I've posted my Thursday Thirteen, too. Enjoy! ;)

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  12. Interesting.
    Thanks for stopping by my list.

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  13. I love the Persephone myth. Did you ever read P.C. Cast's take on it? (Goddess of Spring)

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  14. A really interesting list--I hadn't heard a lot of these things. I didn't know it was called Sa...(what you said)!

    I don't believe I agree that people need the dark. I believe it is there, but what I think they really need is the light!

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  15. Tink, I forgot to leave a link to my Thursday Thirteen. I don't see a way to do that, except to put it here? Thanks! http://connectionsgodandtheworld.blogspot.com/2006/10/thursday-thirteen-teenagers-and-god.html

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  16. Wow, I knew very little of that! Thanks for edu-ma-cating me!

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  17. Interesting stuff!
    (and any excuse to say pomegranate!)

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  18. Nice list. I love that people are out there educating folks about witches.

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  19. I spent a very noisy New Year with Dutch friends in Ijmuiden once. And a very quiet New Year's day on the beach trying to blow the hangover away :o)

    Hope you enjoy Halloween

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  20. I love to learn things from other bloggers. Thanks for this post!

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  21. What a cool list. Some I knew, and some I didn't! :)

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  22. A New Year for us Pagan will be starting soon.
    I've been working on my pagan new year resoultions, which are trying to change some of my spiritual self.
    My TT is up

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  23. What a very cool TT. Some of this I knew, but a lot I didn't. Thanks for sharing it.

    Annie

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  24. I learned quite a bit about this hallowed holiday!

    I broke out the tarot cards last night. I never made it a point to do it on Halloween. This year will be different.

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  25. Interesting list with some great background on Halloween. Thanks for sharing.

    Thirteen 10th Birthday Photos

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  26. I agree.. what a very interesting list! Thanks for sharin!

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  27. Sooooo cool! I'm fascinated by this stuff. Now I miss Buffy the Vampire Slayer more than ever....They always had the best Halloween episodes.... :( Fabulous list!

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  28. thanks Tink for filling us in on some very interesting facts aobut my favorite Holiday! I will enjoy it even more this year!
    I read a book about some of these things years ago..don't remember the name?? Do you know of any good books so I could learn more?

    My TT's up too!

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  29. Very interesting! Thanks for posting that!

    Happy TT1

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  30. Oh great, now the dead are going to stop by to give me advice. Like I don't already have enough people scouring around in my personal disasters. And just where were they a few years ago?

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  31. I am leaving for the weekend so told my husband he is responsible for all Halloween preparation.

    Somehow I won't be surprised if the kids in the neighborhood end up getting Coors Lights and cigars or something! Heaven knows what my kids will end up dressed as!

    It's my first Thursday 13 this week. Loving it!

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  32. great list. I learn more and more everyday

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  33. It was my mother's encounter with "the dead" that sobered her thoughts about them... they wanted to take her life... so, I think "the dead" are not so innocent as mentioned here.

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  34. Do the dead really have any more guilt or innocence than they did when they were alive? I understood that to be the return of loved ones to guide us. I find my dead grandmother's presence extremely comforting. She loved halloween. Thanks for the great list Tink! I hope you continue to feel better...

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Love, Tink