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

[latelatebloomer]

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.)

[Geonz]

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...

[latelatebloomer]

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!

[RoadRaven]

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.

[RoadRaven]

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…...

[latelatebloomer]

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

[mary9761]

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.