I love Halloween-Samhainby foovay

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!

A longer and more detailed article about Samhain or Halloween 

and Pagan ecards for the holiday!

Pagan Holidays - Halloween, Samhain

Information on the Pagan holiday Halloween or Samhain,celebrated October 31st in the Northern Hemisphere.

Fre-ecards.com

Original, pagan oriented e-cards for the holiday (by the artist who wrote this lens)

Book about Paganism or Halloween 

Death Makes a Holiday: A Cultural History of Halloween

by David J. Skal

Amazon Price: (as of 07/26/2008)

The Pagan Mysteries of Halloween: Celebrating the Dark Half of the Year

by Jean Markale

Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 07/26/2008)

The Pagan Book of Halloween: A Complete Guide to the Magick, Incantations, Recipes, Spells, and Lore

by Gerina Dunwich

Amazon Price: (as of 07/26/2008)

Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night

by Nicholas Rogers

Amazon Price: (as of 07/26/2008)

Halloween: Pagan Festival To Trick Or Treat

by Mark Oxbrow

Amazon Price: $16.19 (as of 07/26/2008)

My personal offerings for this Halloween 

clipart, coloring pages, ecards

As you may have noticed, I am an artist, a writer and a webpage designer. Naturally, I have made quite a few pages of my own personal offerings for my favorite holiday! Allow me to tell you all about them here, and I will give you the links below!

First, I have added a new section to my website, Color Your Own, just for the holiday. Color Your Own is a website full of line drawings that you can copy and color on your computer, or print out for coloring pages. They are free for most uses, including personal crafts and decorations, not to mention the fun of coloring them for you and your kids.

Demented Pixie Graphics is a website with all original clipart created by me. I have added a couple of pages of brand new clipart this Halloween and set up a new section just for Halloween art.

In case you missed it before, I also have an ecards site, Fre-ecards.com, and I have a Halloween section there, too! New cards are added every year. They are all original - you won't find them anywhere else.

That's it! (so far!)

Original Halloween offerings 

from the Demented-pixie (Summer Fey Foovay)

Color Your Own

Line art, coloring pages

Demented-Pixie Graphics

Original halloween or samhain clipart

Fre-ecards.com

Original Halloween/Samhain ecards

My favorite Halloween movies 

I really love old monster movies. I remember watching these things over and over as a kid. And then there are the cult classics...I could pick about twice as many as they will let me here!

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (25th Anniversary Edition)

Amazon Price: $15.99 (as of 07/26/2008)

The Nightmare Before Christmas (Special Edition)

Amazon Price: (as of 07/26/2008)

Dracula - The Legacy Collection (Dracula / Dracula (1931 Spanish Version) / Dracula's Daughter / Son of Dracula / House of Dracula)

Amazon Price: $23.99 (as of 07/26/2008)

Young Frankenstein

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 07/26/2008)

Frankenstein - The Legacy Collection (Frankenstein / Bride of / Son of / Ghost of / House of)

Amazon Price: $23.99 (as of 07/26/2008)

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!

Jack-O-Lanterns and Pumpkins 

Original artwork stuff

Customizable Jack-O-Lantern at Color Your Own

Works like the dollmakers - you have a pumpkin base and get to pick eyes, nose, and mouth! Other jack-o-lantern coloring pages, too.

Halloween Pumpkin and Jack-O-Lantern clipart

Original pumpkin and jack-o-lantern clipart

Fre-ecards

Look under "Pagan Holidays - Halloween" to find the Jack-O-Lantern legend on an ecard!

Some other people made some cool pumpkin lenses, too! 

What can you do with Pumpkin Guts?

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...

Pumpkin Bread Recipe

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...

Halloween Pumpkin Heaven

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...

Pumpkin Carving 101

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, how to make your o...

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 

bestsofar

800px-Dessin_danse_m...

800px-Danzas_de_la_m...

surmatants

yes

femmacabre1

femmacabre6

More About the Danse Macabre 

Halloween Videos 

Back to lighter fare...

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Costumes! 

Not just for kids anymore

More cool costumes 

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MEDIUM - LITTLE STINKER - Dog Halloween Costume

LITTLE STINKER PET COSTUME: Even if your dog is we more...1 point

LITTLE STINKER PET COSTUME: Even if your dog is wearing plenty of doggy cologne, Your friends and neigbors will do a double-take when your pet is wearing our Little Stinker Costume. Black Velvet fabric stands out and is highlighted by a classic white stripe from head to tail. Easy fit costume is a wrap-around style which makes it perfect for hard to fit dogs. Perfect for small or large dogs, this easy to fit costume is perfect for the dog who has the scent! Velcro fasteners make for an easy fit....1 point

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Casual Canine Dogzilla Dinosaur Costumes

Highly detailed, high-quality Casual CanineTM Dogz more...1 point

Highly detailed, high-quality Casual CanineTM Dogzilla Dinosaur Costumes are perfect for trick-or-treating, Halloween parties, or photos. All costumes feature Velcro® closures for easy-on/easy-off dressing1 point

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Pink Bunny Dog Costume *LARGE*

Size Your dog from the base of the neck to tail< more...1 point

Size Your dog from the base of the neck to tail<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
up to 10" Small Toy Poodle; Yorkshire Terrier; Chihuahua; Pomeranian; Silky Terrier; Boston Terrier; Maltese; Jack Russell Terrier; Pug<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
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11"- 14" Medium Cocker Spaniel; Scottish Terrier; Bichon Frise; Beagle; Corgi<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
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15"-18" Large Springer Spaniel; Brittany Spaniel1 point

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Casual Canine Piggy Pooch - MEDIUM

Halloween Pet Costumes are a great way to include more...0 points

Halloween Pet Costumes are a great way to include your pet in the Halloween festivities! These pet costumes are specially designed specifically for your pet's body. All pet costumes are made to be comfortable and adorable. Be sure to select the right size of pet costume.Casual Canine Piggy Pooch is fun and irresistibly cute! Great for dress-up, parties, photo opportunities, or get togethers. Made of soft polyester with Velcro® closures for easy fastening and a secure fit.0 points

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Lion Pet Costume *Large*

Size Your dog from the base of the neck to tail< more...0 points

Size Your dog from the base of the neck to tail<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
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up to 10" Small Toy Poodle; Yorkshire Terrier; Chihuahua; Pomeranian; Silky Terrier; Boston Terrier; Maltese; Jack Russell Terrier; Pug<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
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11"- 14" Medium Cocker Spaniel; Scottish Terrier; Bichon Frise; Beagle; Corgi<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
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15"-18" Large Springer Spaniel; Brittany Spaniel0 points

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SMALL - UDDERLY ADORABLE COW - Dog Puppy Halloween Costume

Adorable Pet Costumes make any pet the life of the more...0 points

Adorable Pet Costumes make any pet the life of the party. Treat your dog to these irresistibly cute Pet Costumes. They dress up any pet to turn any occasion into a humorous photo opportunity.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
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Great fun for parties, family gatherings, holidays and special events.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
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UDDERLY ADORABLE PET COSTUME: Make your dog Udderly Adorable this halloween. Highly visable, contrasting Black and White in the classic Gurnsy pattern. Includes a coordinating headpiece. Perfect for small or large dogs, this easy t...0 points

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Dog Costume - Spidey Paws Dog Spider Halloween Costume - XS

Your guests will be a little frightened when they more...0 points

Your guests will be a little frightened when they see a large spider appear! Your dog will be the talk of the town when he's/she's dressed up in this scary spider costume.0 points

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Doggone Cat Dog Costume - XSMALL

Have your own Black Cat this Halloween with the Do more...0 points

Have your own Black Cat this Halloween with the Doggone Cat Dog Costume with the fun kitty face on the hood. Doggone Cat Dog Costume is great for any party. Features elasticize hood including pointing cat ears. Machine washable for easy care. Halloween Pet Costumes are a great way to include your pet in the Halloween festivities! These pet costumes are specially designed specifically for your pet's body. All pet costumes are made to be comfortable and adorable. Be sure to select the right size p...0 points

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Dog Costume - Maine Lobster Dog Halloween Costume - X-Large (XL)

Adorable Pet Costumes make any pet the life of the more...0 points

Adorable Pet Costumes make any pet the life of the party. Treat your dog to these irresistibly cute Pet Costumes. They dress up any pet to turn any occasion into a humorous photo opportunity.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
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Great fun for parties, family gatherings, holidays and special events.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
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LOBSTER PAWS PET COSTUME: Catch the attention you've always wanted for your dog. Easy fit, wrap-over style costume is perfect for hard-to-fit dogs. Lobster costume includes lobster paws, atennae, and lobster bug-eyes. Perfect for s...0 points

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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...

Feed from my blog, Foovay's Cauldron 

Just in case I add some more Halloween stuff...

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So tell me, what do you love about Halloween? 

rms This lens is super fantastic! Posted October 27, 2007