/**/
10/19/2011

12 days away


It's almost creepy time again. Halloween. A name for a day with very ancient origins. All Hallows' Eve. Samhain. Pronounced Sow-in. A Celtic day of ritual that involved bonfires and the wearing of costumes to ward of the ghosts roaming about the countryside. It was a time of harvest and fortune telling and sacrifices to the Gods. It was the time of the Druids.

In the Eight Century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1st as All Saints Day, a day to commemorate all saints and martyrs, in order to give Christian dressing to a celebration of the pagans. It was something the Church did over and over - a way of incorporating pagan belief and ritual into the Church, making Christianity more palatable to "the natives".

I don't trick or treat anymore. Not for the last year or two anyway. People were getting to be a bit suspicious - and I had long ago run out of kids to use as camouflage. These days, I stay home and make the little buggers beg for candy as they come to my house.

Except for the ones that are dressed like Elvis. They're just too cute.

Ndinombethe.

6 comments:

Grandmother Mary said...

Oh those tricky christians. Sad though that they destroyed some great celebrations along the way and ended up denigrating the status of women as well. But, enjoy halloween anyway.

Big Mark 243 said...

I am with Grandmother... not going to drag on Christianity or anything but I do hope you enjoy passing out treats..!

miss ash tuesday said...

I think I need to be Grandmother's friend. :)

Lisa said...

I miss trick or treating. The last time I did it for candy (that sounds dirty...and yummy) I was in college.

tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

This is why I want to have more kids! I can't get away with going trick or treating with them once Corinne is old enough to go on her own. I only have about 5 more years of trick or treating before I am left at the door frame, dreaming of random candy!

Also? My kids don't share everything I want. I WANT DUM DUMS TOO!

PattiKen said...

Come trick or treat at our house. We have the best goodies!