Samhain ~ Halloween... my rant for the day...

Merry meet,
I don't participate in the Halloween thing and many other Christian holidays for exactly the reasons posted here, specifically the commercial one! It seems like nowdays, every holiday is out to make money. Halloween (Samhain) is barely over and Christmas stuff is everywhere! When my brothers and I were young, our parents made sure to stress that it wasn't all about what kind and how many goodies were under the tree on Christmas morning. That is the total opposite of what I see today. Maybe that is why I feel much more comfortable with and continue to celebrate the Pagan tradations.
Blessed be

Yes, Dogmamma ( and IF)... the widely-held meaning of "witch" has been brought straight to you from the fear of male priests 'way back when', a new religion keen to take the unnatural power from women and which viewed women as evil (the original sin, the temptress - look what they did to the disciple Mary Magdalane) - we have the power to create life, we can bleed copiously every month and not die - and back then many women had knowledge of healing, and this knowledge is being found and shared again - amongst men and women, Christian and Pagan alike.

JuJu... in North America, the Raven often appears as a God but in Celtic understandings, the Raven is a signatory creature... the Raven is often associated with powerful Goddess figures.
The Celts believed the Raven to be one of three oldest animals (the other two being the trout and the stag). The Raven is a creature of wisdom (there is a saying/blessing wishing the "wisdom of the raven".
Ravens are associated with death transitions in Celtic lore - Raven is the carrier of souls between the spirit world and the earth plane. Raven can foretell the beginning of a new life, but usually is associated with the transition from life to the next place we travel.

Tater... like you I am sad at the commercialisation, and like your parents, my partner and I stress that these commercial events are actually not about buying more stuff. Their birthdays are when the money is spent.

I hadn't realized that our Halloween was now being celebrated outside the USA. How sad. Personally it's one holiday I can do without. I guess as a kid I enjoyed it - who wouldn't enjoy getting candy and sweets that would last a year but now the holiday is just well, too entirely commerical. My neighborhood "dresses up" its houses almost like it's Christmas time (and don't get me started about that!).

As an evangelical christian I don't get all weirded about the holiday celebrating pagan symbols and rituals - Halloween has long since advance from that - it's now just a great big event for candy makers and those who make home decorations. Kids have no idea what the holiday really means. It's sad to realize especially since the USA is the fattest nation in the world, that we celebrate a holiday by giving out candy to little kids who probably eat too much junk food and dont get enough exercise as it is.

SO NZ, so sorry for exporting the holiday. I feel your pain. :(

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Originally Posted by RoadRaven

JuJu... in North America, the Raven often appears as a God but in Celtic understandings, the Raven is a signatory creature... the Raven is often associated with powerful Goddess figures.
The Celts believed the Raven to be one of three oldest animals (the other two being the trout and the stag). The Raven is a creature of wisdom (there is a saying/blessing wishing the "wisdom of the raven".
Ravens are associated with death transitions in Celtic lore - Raven is the carrier of souls between the spirit world and the earth plane. Raven can foretell the beginning of a new life, but usually is associated with the transition from life to the next place we travel.

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Thanks for that new info, RR. I've always been very interested in North American raven lore--it's intriguing to hear how other cultures have "interpreted" the raven. From your description, it sounds somewhat like the Irish banshee. Hmmm.....

Isn't it great how many different beliefs are represented in this thread? So far, I see a couple of pagans, several Christians, at least one atheist, and I don't know what else. And NOBODY is flaming or being flamed! That's my idea of something to celebrate.:)

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Originally Posted by Quillfred

Parts of Mexico have been able to retain traditions in El Dia de los Muertos - Day of the Dead. I have been privileged in the past to participate in this holy holiday time in Oaxaca City - one of the southern states with large indiginous populations.

http://www.mexonline.com/features/daydead-oaxaca.htm

http://oaxacalive.com/muertos.htm

It is a family holiday that is very poignant, where families celebrate their deceased loved ones by building altars of remembrance decorated with pictures of the deceased, crosses, flowers, mezcal/tequila, food, etc.

The holidays start on the 31st up to the 2nd. Families clean and decorate gravesites in a similar fashion and stay up all night reminiscing and celebrating the memories of loved ones. One night is dedicated to infants.

Stores and houses are decorated for the holiday. There are impromptu plays in the street. Small groups of musicians play songs and encourage merriment and dance. There are bands playing in the town square in the evening.

It might sound macabre but it really isn't. Death is grieved, mocked, and laughed at. It is quite a refreshing change to our cultural relationship to death.

May justice and peace return to Oaxaca soon.

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How fitting, I was at a Dia De Los Muertos parade yesterday!

This seems like a perfect time for us all to sing that Dar Williams song about the Christians & the Pagans (in one family) having Thanksgiving dinner together (but this time only pumpkin pies are burning.)

I love Halloween.* Of course, I live next to a cemetary, call my little place Goblin Farm, and am very clear that if I lived in "olden days" I'd have been burned the first time anyone heard me talking to animals... & plants!

(*I live in a tiny rural village, so it doesn't get crass.)

I thought it was Christmas... wasn't there a tree? Now *that's* a song that brings tears to my eyes :-)

I was a teensy bit disappointed that almost everybody at my friend's Day of the Dead party dressed scary, but then I debated with myself about trying to pretend to be from a culture you aren't vs. absorbing just a little bit of it into your own...

Could've been Christmas. I tend to quote off the top of my head. Margot caught me passing off Julian of Norwich for Hildegard deBingen. The depth of knowlege on this forum is apparently boundless!

Lyrics here for those interested - it is more fun to listen to the song if you can though...

Amber called her uncle, said We're up here for the holiday,
Jane and I were having Solstice, now we need a place to stay.
And her Christ-loving uncle watched his wife hang Mary on a tree,
He watched his song hang candy canes all made with red dye number three.

He told his niece, Its Christmas Eve, I know our life is not your style,
She said, Christmas is like Solstice, and we miss you and its been awhile,
So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,
And just before the meal was served, hands were held and prayers were said,
Sending hope for peace on earth to all their gods and goddesses.

The food was great, the tree plugged in, the meal had gone without a hitch,
Till Timmy turned to Amber and said, Is it try that youre a wtich?
His mom jumped up and said, The pies are burning, and she hit the kitchen,
And it was Jane who spoke, she said, Its true, your cousins not a Christian,
But we love trees, we love the snow, the friends we have, the world we share,
And you find magic from your God, and we find magic everywhere,
So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,
And where does magic come from? I think magics in the learning,
Cause now when Christians sit with Pagans only pumpkin pies are burning.

When Amber tried to do the dishes, her aunt said, Really, no, dont bother.
Ambers uncle saw how Amber looked like Tim and like her father.
He thought about his brother, how they hadnt spoken in a year,
He thought hed call him up and say, Its Christmas and your daughters here.

He thought of fathers, sons and brothers, so his own son tug his sleeve, saying,
Can I be a Pagan? Dad said, Well discuss it when they leave.
So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,
Lighting trees in darkness, learning new ways from the old, and
Making sense of history and drawing warmth out of the cold.

LateLate... I compiled a CD from our collection which I called "Pagan Pride" for friends last year as a gift for Summer Solstice... not all with reference to pagans, some just about how wonderful this world is - its a folk-rock mix...

It began with Dar's song "The Christians and the Pagans" (no-one else in NZ seems to have heard of her... thanks to Joan Baez who has "introduced" to us many artists we may never have heard because she sings their songs or includes them at her concerts because she recognises their talent and wants others to know... people like Dar, and Richard Shindell and Lucy Kaplansky)

Some other songs my compilation CD also includes;
'Gypsy Fair' by Hothouse Flowers ...you'll find some freedom there...

'The Whole of the Moon' by Jennifer Warnes ... I pictured a rainbow, you held it in your hands...

'Calling the Moon' by Dar Williams (Richard Shindell also sings a good version of this) ... I promised the fields I'd return from now on...

'Golden Feather' by Robbie Robertson & the Red Road Ensemble ...howling like coyotes at the naked moon...

'Fleur de Lis' by Richard Shindell ...I adore thee Mother Mary but would change me back to a witch...

'Cup of Wonder' by Jethro Tull ...we accept your invitation and would bring you Beltane's flower...

'Solstice Bells' by Jethro Tull ...joyful as the silver planets run...

'Jack o the Green' by Jethro Tull ...he drinks from the empty acorn cup...

'Fire at Midnight' by Jethro Tull ...build a little fire this midnight, its good to be back home with you...

'Acres Wild' by Jethro Tull ...come with me to the Winged Isle, Northern father's Western child...

'Lights of Louisianne' by Jennifer Warnes ...set her dancing on the mantle like a piece of star...

‘This is me’ by …when dreams were movies god made for me…

‘Ghost Dance’ by Robbie Robertson & the Red Road Ensemble ...we shall live again…...

and on top of all that, you thow in Ghost Dance. I think I have a crush on you.

I have always liked Enchantress by Gypsy, which I see is FINALLY available on CD. I may have to try to get it as I'd worn my tape out. "Bring Back the Light" was alway one of my favorites as well as the title track "Enchantress". "Bring Back the Light" has been used in Winter Solstice ritual several times.

Have you ever heard of Loreena McKennitt? "All Souls Night" is the first song I ever heard by her. It actually got some airplay here on the FM radio.

http://www.quinlanroad.com/exploreth...isit.asp?id=80

Several of her songs seem to fit on your CD. You can listen to songs by navigating on the link above. She is a Canadian women who rarely tours. I was able to see her once.

Hope you enjoy. :D

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Originally Posted by Dogmama

I briefly watched a piece on the History channel about witches. They failed to say that women were the doctors and had the healing powers which led (in part) to their demonization by the male Christian leadership.

They also failed to note that after the infamous witch burning, Europe was beset by the plague - caused by burning the cats that caught the rats that spread the plague.

It's the rule of three in action.

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How wonderful to stumble upon this thread! I wish I'd found it last week. I am a midwife, and one of the things I remember and celebrate at this time of year is the memory of my predecessors who were murdered for standing up for women and children, for healing when healing was politically inexpedient.

I am of Northern European ancestry. I don't doubt that Samhein was a holy day to my ancestors, as it is to me. I work primarily with Mexican families, and have absorbed some of their traditions. I honor the divine in the Virgen of Guadalupe/Tonantzin, I celebrate Dia de Muertos. If you're ever in Chicago at this time of year, please go to the Mexican Fine Arts Museum. They have a wonderful Dia de Muertos exhibit up from late September to early December.

It makes sense to me that this is when the new year begins. We cycle through, touch spirits with those who went before, and move on to the new year. I'm grateful for the richness that learning about Samhein and Dia de Muertos has brought to my life. My sister calls me a "Polyreligion Monotheist". I took one of those internet tests, and came out essentially as I was raised--Presbyterian in my values! As Juju commented, I love it that this thread has comments from many points of belief, and all of it respectful. I bow to you. Blessed be. L.