 |
All Hallow's Eve, or Halloween, is a perfect time for ceremony and/or ritual. No - I am not referring to Satanic rites, nor I am going to encourage you to use soap or bathroom tissue to "upgrade" your neighbors home, yard or vehicle(s)! What I am talking about here is a true sense of celebration. Here in the US, Halloween is still very much a time for children. In many neighborhoods it is still safe enough for them to "trick or treat" from house to house, or to perhaps to go to a neighborhood or even a private party, or a party sponsored by their school or church.
I have fond memories of Halloween - and try to recreate as much of it as I can for myself every year. In fact - I started putting up Halloween decorations in mid-September (September not being a favorite month of mine, and having nothing really going for it! ;-) ). My stuffed pumpkin was set out in the living room, and my (plastic) stuffed Scarecrow shared the chaise on the porch with my male Orange Tabby, Maxwell. I have other decorations that went up closer to the 1st of October - which is also when the candy starts coming into the house!
I have two pumpkin-style LARGE containers that I put candy (chocolate bars only - I am no dummy!) in. Since I moved away from the city, I only get one or two trickor treater's, so I have to stuff the plastic pumpkins with paper and put the candy over that. (In the city - both containers were packed with baggies of mini-chocolate bars to give out - with a special section of "no nuts" bars for the babies. Yes - every year we had parents bringing babies around! I was most grateful that they were will to (a) do the walking and (b) share their children!)
My favorite Halloween was the year my mother made my costume (well - she made them every year - but this one was a BIG hit!). I won the contest at school for best costume in my grade level (my brother was MAJORLY put out about that!), and we went trick or treating forever - we all ended up with two BIG grocery sacks filled with goodies. Now, in the pre-historic ages when I was doing this, we could accept fruit, carnel apples, carmel-corn, home-made cookies - basicaly, whatever showed up! No trips to the hospital to have our stuff x-rayed, and no fear of knocking on anyone's doar. Sigh ... how times have changed!
How are you going to celebrate your Halloween? Are you getting costumes ready for children or grandchildren? Are you getting the decorations out, and looking for sales on candy? Are you hosting, or helping to chaperone a party for children? Better yet - are you hosting or attending a party for adults? Is your neighborhood having a joint party?
What wonderful thoughts for food come to mind: thick and hearty stews to celebrate the harvest; hot, homemade bread; spicey hot apple cider and donuts, or perhaps pumpkin or spice cookies, or even a pumpkin pie or two! What better than good food to bond people together than the smell and taste of good food, consumed in good company!
All of these are ways of celebrating - of marking this time of year. It is a time for new beginnings (Wiccan New Year), a time of harvest, and the one night in the year that the veil between the world is the thinnest, and souls can travel with greatest ease between the worlds. Whatever your personal beliefs - take the time to celebrate them. Bring the joy of the season into your life.
Thank you for visiting my Ceremony room. May your day be Blessed.
Mitakuye Oyasin - For All Of Our Relations.
Bonnie Cehovet
|
