But why?
More and more people will tell you their favorite holiday is Halloween, or Samhain as many Pagans refer to it. But why is that?
I think there are a lot of reasons. Here are a few of my thoughts, and a few of the things I like best about the holiday!
Whee - Halloween 2008 is finally here!
If you are anywhere near Truth or Consequences, NM drop by after dark to see the strollers on Broadway. Everyone will be there to show off their costume (me included). Many of the local businesses will stay open and be handing out goodies. There's a spook house and dance in the parking lot at Bullocks, 630 Broadway. Come join the fun!
Pagans and Samhain (Halloween)
To Pagans, Samhain is a very important holiday.It is the last of the three great harvest festivals many of us celebrate. Now is the time of turning in. We gather the harvest and evaluate our gains. We decide what will tide us over the winter, and what must be saved as seed for the coming spring.
It is the turning of the year - and the Witch's New Year. Now is the time when the darkness is greater than the light. When most of us will turn from outward focused tasks such as planting and harvesting (gardens, yes, but also jobs, learning, raising children) to inward focused tasks such as study of our craft, meditation, teaching, and spiritual growth.
Many cultures and religions agree that at this time of year the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead are thin. In the old Christian traditions (and some current ones as well) this is a frightening prospect, as they believe that only the evil will pass through to this earth - since the good are all sitting beside God in heaven, I guess. But to Pagans, and any tradition that reveres and honors their ancestors, this is a time to look forward to. A time when we can remember, honor, and even visit with those who have passed to another plane of existance. Many of us decorate altars with offerings to those who have passed before us. Their favorite foods and drinks, and little remembrances of them such as photos.
It is a time for divination. For asking the ancestors and the spirit world to share their wisdom with us and to guide us in making decisions that will serve our highest good and greatest growth. Whether you read the tarot or tea leaves, now is a good time for a reading. Ask for guidance and advice from your ancestors and the spirit world, and they will share it with love.
And last, but hardly least, many Pagans still live in places where our religion is actively persecuted. Many of them are "closeted" - pretending to be something they are not. Then along comes the Halloween party and it is okay to dress as a Witch! To many, it is more like coming out than hiding behind a mask!
Learn more about Samhain
You can learn more about Samhain - the pagan holy day - at this lens
The Asylum
A local spookhouse in Kellyville, OK
Halloween in Truth or Consequences, NM
A couple of years ago I was visiting Truth or Consequences, New Mexico on Halloween. Hubby and I were treating ourselves to a visit to one of their world famous healing hot springs spas.After dark, spooks and monsters began appearing on the streets! It is a local custom for everyone who dresses up for Halloween to stroll up and down Broadway after dark. Many of the little local businesses open or stay open and offer treats. Even the local volunteer fire department turns out their parade truck and hands out candy to the kids.
It was one of the reasons we decided to stay here - two years ago! Yep - look for me on Broadway this Halloween - I'll be the Dark Fairy!
The Story of the Jack-o-Lantern
One of my favorite Halloween stories
Sure, everyone has a Jack-o-Lantern - but do you know why?Well, the traditional story goes - there once was a man named Jack, who was a terrible prankster. He played pranks constantly, and on anyone at all. When Jack died, neither God nor the Devil would allow him into Heaven or Hell for fear of his constant pranks. So Jack was sentenced to walk the earth for eternity. You could see him walking about at night - carrying his lantern. Thus he became known as Jack - O - Lantern.
At first, because Europe - where the tale originated - did not have pumpkins - Jack carried a lantern made out of a hollowed out turnip with a candle inside. When Europeans came to the New World, they discovered pumpkins. Much better! Bigger - easier to carve and get a candle into! And makes better pie, too.
I think I am sentimental about this story because when my father-in-law, a real prankster himself, and an all around character, passed on a few years ago. As the family gathered around we began joking about how Dad was probably watching, because neither God nor the Devil would have him. We had visions of him bouncing back and forth, and being turned back at both gates. Later, I learned the story about the Jack-O-Lantern, and now it always reminds me of Dad.
So, I am especially fond of Jack-O-Lanterns. I have them in the clipart, on ecards, and in the coloring pages. I even have a customizable one at Color Your Own!
Some other people made some cool pumpkin lenses, too!
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Pumpkin Bread Recipe
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A pumpkin bread recipe is often served in the fall, in North America. Pumpkin is such a great food to serve for Thanksgiving, for Halloween and of course, at any time at all during this season. I often wonder, though, why we tend to limit this w...
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Halloween Pumpkin Heaven
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I am fascinated by Halloween and the supernatural, and thought it would be fun - and hopefully useful! - to create a lens all about Halloween pumpkins. Here you'll find info on pumpkin traditions, pumpkin carving and other crafts, choosing a great pu...
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Pumpkin Carving 101
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Pumpkin Carving is easy once you know a few tricks. Find everything you need, right here, the best pumpkin carving tools, pumpkin carving books, tips to make your pumpkin carving job easier and fix any pumpkin...
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What can you do with Pumpkin Guts?
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It's pumpkin carving time! You know what that means - pumpkin guts. They're gooey, they smell a bit funny, and they're an easy way to quadruple the weight of your garbage can. Stickiness aside, what CAN you do with pumpkin guts?&nbs...
More about the Jack-o-Lantern legend
- History of Halloween - History of the Jack O' Lantern
- Pumpkin carving is a popular part of modern America's Halloween celebration. Come October, pumpkins can be found everywhere in the country from doorsteps to dinner tables.
Unique Halloween Greeting Cards
Happy Samhain Greeting Card
by
foovay
Create note cards With Zazzle
View more Major Holidays Cards
Evil Jack-o-Lantern Greeting Card by foovay
Design custom greeting cards On Zazzle.com
Boo! Halloween greeting card by foovay
Make customized greeting cards At www.zazzle.com
I'm watching you! by foovay
Make custom picture note cards With Zazzle.com
Come out to play! by foovay
Make a greeting card With zazzle.com
Spooky Full Moon Storm by foovay
Create a photo note card online at www.zazzle.com
The Danse Macabre
Another of my favorite stories about Death - timely this Halloween
The Danse Macabre was a medival allegory that was created at the time of the Great Plague. Fully one third of the worlds population died as the Black Plague swept across Europe. How frantic young people must have lived, knowing that at any moment blushing youth could wither and die. The picture of a vibrant young maiden dancing with death, usually a jaunty skeleton with top hat and tails came to symbolize this to many.Today, we are doing our own Danse Macabre. A plague is sweeping the world, leaving behind thousands of orphans in less developed countries, while the most priviledged nation lags behind helping in the name of lining the pockets of big, rich pharmacuetical companies at the cost of lives of the poor. Our governments make war at the drop of a hat, sending our young to die in the name of - whatever excuse they are using that week. "Terrorist" has become the new "witch hunt". We have handed over our rights as citizens as the government brandishes the fear of terrorists so that now any person, any time, any where, can be branded a "terrorist", then defamed, robbed, tortured, and killed without recourse. Our nations rush to suck the Earth dry of her resources, fighting over the last drops of oil, turning a blind eye to the obvious changes in our world wide weather so we can go on with our greedy consuming.
Truly, we are doing our own Danse Macabre. We rush blindly on, grabbing up "all the toys", hoping to build a wall of enough possessions, enough prestige, enough mind numbing drugs, movies, games to give us a sense of security while the world falls down around us. We are that youthful maiden, dancing in the arms of death.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead
I believe that prayer and meditation influence the Universe. This Halloween, pause for a moment in your rush to get all the candy. Light a candle, say a prayer, meditate just a moment. Visualize a world of love instead of hate, of hope instead of fear, where people come together to help one another, where we live WITH the Earth, not just ON the Earth. Maybe you can resolve to make one small change in your own lifestyle that will make a positive contribution to the world. Step back from the dance, look Death in the eye - see that bony old skeleton for what he is, and slap him in the face for daring to trifle with you!
More Danse Macabre Images
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More About the Danse Macabre
Dance of Death, also variously called Danse Macabre (French), Danza Macabra (Italian and Spanish), Dança da Morte (Portuguese), or Totentanz (German), is a late-medieval allegory on the universality of death: no matter one's station in life, the dance of death unites all. La Danse Macabre consists of the personified death leading a row of dancing figures from all walks of life to the grave, typically with an emperor, king, youngster, and beautiful girl?all skeletal. They were produced to remind people of how fragile their lives and how vain the glories of earthly life were. Its origins are postulated from illustrated sermon texts; the earliest artistic examples are in a cemetery in Paris from 1424.
Original Halloween Coloring Pages
I am an artist, so of course I love to draw and design all kinds of things for Halloween and Samhain.Besides the greeting cards and postage from my Zazzle store and the free ecards for Samhain and Halloween from fre-ecards.com I have also created some Halloween coloring pages to add to my free printable coloring pages at Color-Your-Own.com, like that creepy tree you see here!
This year (2008) I just started creating ACEOs for sale on eBay and will be putting some Halloween and Samhain ACEOs up for sale, too! (ACEOs are small art works, 2.5 x 3.5 inches, the size of a common playing or trading card. They are popular collectibles.)
My favorite Halloween movies
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (25th Anniversary Edition)
Amazon Price: $12.49 (as of 07/06/2009) 
The Nightmare Before Christmas (Special Edition)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)
Dracula - The Legacy Collection (Dracula / Dracula (1931 Spanish Version) / Dracula's Daughter / Son of Dracula / House of Dracula)
Amazon Price: $23.99 (as of 07/06/2009)
Young Frankenstein
Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 07/06/2009)
Frankenstein - The Legacy Collection (Frankenstein / Bride of / Son of / Ghost of / House of)
Amazon Price: $23.99 (as of 07/06/2009)
Costumes!
Not just for kids anymore
More cool costumes
MEDIUM - LITTLE STINKER - Dog Halloween Costume
LITTLE STINKER PET COSTUME: Even if your dog is we more...3 points
Pink Bunny Dog Costume *LARGE*
Size Your dog from the base of the neck to tail up more...2 points
Casual Canine Piggy Pooch - MEDIUM
Halloween Pet Costumes are a great way to include more...1 point
Dog Costume - Hot Diggity Dog Halloween Costume (Hot Dog w/Ketchup) - Medium
HOT DIGGITY DOG: This Halloween, your dog will rea more...1 point
Dog Little Witch Halloween Costume - Small - Pet Custome
You will love dressing your dogs for photo opportu more...1 point
Doggone Cat Dog Costume - XSMALL
Have your own Black Cat this Halloween with the Do more...0 points
Dog Costume - Maine Lobster Dog Halloween Costume - X-Large (XL)
Adorable Pet Costumes make any pet the life of the more...0 points
Batman Dog Halloween Costume Pet Size Small
Pet costumes from Batman are amazing! Pick Batman more...0 points
X-LARGE - E.R. DOCTOR - Pet Halloween Costume
Adorable Pet Costumes make any pet the life of the more...0 points
A Recipe for My favorite Halloween treat
Witch's Hats
These are so quick and easy to make - as well as delicious and fun to eat!1 bag of Keeblers Fudge Stripes
1 bag of Hershey's Kisses (any variety)
1 tube of Orange cake icing (the easy to use type with tip built in is perfect)
Take one cookie - make a ring of the icing around the hole on the chocolate side. Stick an unwrapped Hershey's kiss over the hole. That's it! Repeat until you are out of something or have eaten all the kisses...
Book about Halloween
Death Makes a Holiday: A Cultural History of Halloween
Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)
The Pagan Mysteries of Halloween: Celebrating the Dark Half of the Year
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 07/06/2009)
The Pagan Book of Halloween: A Complete Guide to the Magick, Incantations, Recipes, Spells, and Lore
Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)
Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night
Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)
Halloween: Pagan Festival To Trick Or Treat
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 07/06/2009)
So tell me, what do you love about Halloween?
carvingforkids
@foovay Happy Halloween and SamHain! It's my favorite holiday that we all can be who and whatever we want to be!
http://carvingforkids.com
@carving4kids
Posted October 31, 2008
Pastiche wrote...
Hi Summer, This is a fun lens! I've lensrolled it to 3 of mine with Halloween or costume themes. Nicely done, and Happy Halloween! 5*s - BOO! PS, why Demented?
Posted September 19, 2008
