'Hallomas', or All Saints,' or 'All Souls' Day observed in old English; the word 'Hallow' meant 'sanctity' used to honor all Saints in Heaven known or unknown. They used to consider it with all solemnity as one of the most significant observances of the Church Year.
The American version of Halloween Day celebration owes its origin to the ancient (pre-Christian) Druidic fire festival called 'Samhain' celebrated by the Celts in Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Samhain is pronounced 'Sow-in', with sow rhyming with cow. Thus most of the customs connected with the Day are remnants of the ancient religious beliefs and rituals, first of the Druids and then transcended amongst the Roman Christians who conquered them.
"Trick or treat' may be innocent fun to relish on Halloween Day. But just think about a bunch of frightening fantasies and the scary stories featuring ghosts, witches, monsters, evils, and animal sacrifices associated with it. Are these stories a myth or is there a blend of some reality? You decide!
"Trick or treat' may be innocent fun to relish on Halloween Day. But just think about a bunch of frightening fantasies and the scary stories featuring ghosts, witches, monsters, evils, and animal sacrifices associated with it. Are these stories a myth or is there a blend of some reality? You decide!
FIRELIGHT
It’s night and yet in some eerie way,
It’s just as light as tho it were day.
I’ve heard there are goblins and witches about
And from what I’ve seen I have no doubt.
How else explain a night so weird,
The things that happen you view in fear.
You see a black cat run in flight,
Then by some magic snatched from sight.
Forms in human shape float around,
And if you listen close you hear a sound
That calls - come yonder to the firelight.
You want to explore but you’re in suspense
Then curiosity triumphs e’en tho you’re tense.
You see a broomstick on which to climb
Ignore the shivers running down your spine.
Suddenly you’re zooming thru the air
What possible reason could make you dare
O seek yonder lighted sky in haste?
What sort of witchery is taking place?
It’s a fire ablaze shooting flames to the sky
With a portion brewing in a kettle nearby.
You watch and listen for someone to tell
You all about this magic spell.
But as you wait the fire dies down
And darkness again descends on the town.
The goblins and witches fail to appear,
The magic eludes you until another year.
by Wilhelmine E. Mitchell
4 comments:
As kids we always had a great time dressing and getting the treats. It seems that now-a-days there is much more emphasis on the 'dark' side with witches, devils, goblins, etc. It is a fun game to play with children and to get lots of candy.
However there is a real devil, and he will try to trick as many people as possible. Therefore, it is best to minimize the contact with the devil/witch/ghost/spirit realm.
Mom is quite the poet!
Grandmother, this reads like a children's book! You should illustrate it and presto! kids would read it forever.
We've got our costumes picked out and the kids are already tasting all the candy...sigh. I guess they'll be full of sugary energy for the rest of the week.
I read somewhere that October 31st is the day that Martin Luther posted his 95 theses for reforming the church.
It should be a celebration for Christians when the reformation of the corrupt church began.
On a related note, if you haven't seen the movie, Luther, I recommend it. He is truly a hero of the Christian faith.
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